Rules Myths Part 1

[TwoBits]

Every year I post a modified version of the "Softball Rules Myths" found on Eteamz. I have modified it for both high school baseball and softball and try to show the difference between the two and with the major leagues. I've made some changes and additions this year, and would appreciate any input on what I've written.

Before critiquing, take into account this is written for youth leagues ranging from rec ball to travel teams. Baseball is included since it is expected to be able to umpire both baseball and softball in this area. The softball rules are from the NFHS code and not ASA.

This is part one since the thread is would be too long.

Thanks in advance.


Top Baseball/Softball Rule Myths
PLEASE REMEMBER that these are MYTHS and therefore are all FALSE unless otherwise noted by high school or local league rules.

The Batter
· The hands are considered part of the bat. FALSE. By rule, the hands are and always have been part of the batter.
· If the batter breaks his/her wrists when swinging, it's a strike. FALSE. It is a strike if the umpire judges that the batter attempted to hit the ball. Wrist motion has no bearing on this decision.
· The batter cannot be called out for interference if he/she is in the batter's box. FALSE. If the batter has reasonable time to vacate the batter’s box, he/she must do so or risk interference being called.
· The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes. FALSE. No such rule exists.
· The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out. FALSE. The batter who was skipped is declared out.
· The batter is out if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike. FALSE. In high school rules, the batter is not declared out until he/she enters the dugout. In leagues using professional baseball rules, the batter is declared out once he leaves the dirt area surrounding home plate.
· The batter may never run to first base on an uncaught third strike if first base is occupied at the time of pitch. FALSE. If there are two outs, the batter may run.
· If the batter does not pull the bat back while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike. FALSE. A strike is defined in part as, “A legal pitch that is attempted to be hit by the batter and is missed.” Merely holding the bat in the bunting position does not mean the batter attempted to hit the ball.
· The batter is out if a bunted ball bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat. FALSE. If the batter is still in the batter’s box, it is ruled a foul ball.
· The batter is out if his foot touches the plate. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. However, in all codes, the batter is never called out if contact is not made with the pitch.
· A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit. FALSE in baseball and fast pitch softball, but TRUE in slow pitch softball.
· The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces. FALSE. No such rule exists. The pitch hitting the ground means nothing.
· The ball is dead on a foul tip. FALSE. The term “foul tip” is often misused. The definition of foul tip is, “A batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught.” If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball and the play is dead. However, a foul tip remains a live ball just like a swinging strike.

Running to First
· The batter-runner must turn to his/her right after over-running first base. FALSE. The batter turn either direction and is not in jeopardy of being tagged out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, attempts to advance to second base.
· The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls without liability to be put out. FALSE in all codes except high school, but in baseball only. This is TRUE if a league is using high school baseball rules.
· The batter-runner is always out if he/she runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball. FALSE. The batter is declared out only if he/she is outside the running lane and/or interferes with the defense fielding the ball or receiving a throw at first base.


Base running
· A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players after a homerun is hit over the fence. FALSE. A runner is only out if a player (who is not a runner) or coach physically assists a player in running the bases. A high-five or any other congratulatory gesture is not considered a physical assist.
· Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielder, either. The runner either beats the throw or the throw beats the runner. Ties do not exist.
· The runner gets the base he/she is going to plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play. FALSE. The “1+1” myth that is often quoted does not exist in any rule set. The runner is awarded two bases from time of pitch the ball throw out of play is the first play made on the infield. If the throw is the second or subsequent play made from the infield or is a throw from the outfield, the runner is awarded two bases from the last base the runner touched from the time of the throw.
· Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out. FALSE. Again, the runner must be physically assisted by the coach to be declared out.
· Runners may never run the bases in reverse order. FALSE. In some cases, the runner is required to run the bases in reverse order, such as when he/she must tag up on a particularly long fly ball that is caught.
· The runner must always slide when the play is close. FALSE in most written rules sets, including high school, but some local leagues and age groups do have mandatory slide rules. Check with your local league manager.
· The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base. FALSE in baseball, but TRUE in softball. In baseball, the runner is declared out if struck by an batted ball that is untouched by a fielder even if touching the base unless the ball is declared an infield fly ball as determined by the infield fly rule or it has passed an infielder (not including the pitcher) and no other infielder has a chance of fielding the ball.. However, if a runner intentionally interferes, then he/she would be called out.
· A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. FALSE. The runner is required to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball and may do so without penalty. If the runner runs out of the baseline to avoid a tag, then he/she will be ruled out.
· Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called. FALSE. An infield fly ball as determined by the infield fly rule is a live ball, and runners may advance after tagging up when the ball is caught or may advance without tagging up if the ball is not caught.
· It is illegal for two base runners to be on the same base at the same time. FALSE, however, one of them is in jeopardy of being put out. If a runner is forced to advance to the next base, the lead runner would be out if tagged. If the lead runner is not forced, the trail runner would be out if tagged.

Fair/Foul, Foul Tips, and Others
· If a batted ball hits the plate first, it's a foul ball. FALSE. Home plate is in fair territory just as all the other bases. A batted ball that hits first or third base is a fair ball, and home plate is no different.
· If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball. FALSE. It is the position of the ball which determines whether it is fair or foul, not the position of the fielder
· A runner may not steal on a foul tip. FALSE. As previously stated under the section entitled, “The Batter”, the ball is live on a foul tip. Runners may steal because the ball is live.
· If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds, it's a catch. FALSE. Time is not a factor in an umpire’s judgment on whether a fielder catches a ball or not.
· If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence, it is a homerun. FALSE. This is an out. However, if a fielder enters dead ball territory with the ball, all runners will be awarded one base unless the catch was the third out.
· The ball is dead anytime the ball hits an umpire. FALSE. A thrown ball that hits an umpire is live. A batted ball that hits an umpire is dead unless the ball was deflected off a defensive player or has passed a defensive player.
· The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime. FALSE. No umpire (including the home plate umpire or umpire in chief) has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by another umpire within the limits of the respective duties as outlined in the rules. An umpire may request help from another umpire in a decision, but ultimately it is the requesting umpire who makes the final decision.



Sources: On the Internet…http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/rules/obr/myths/
http://eteamz.active.com/softballumpires/files/Softball_Myth's.doc
2006 National Federation of High Schools Baseball Rules Book
2006 National Federation of High Schools Softball Rules Book
2006 Edition Official Baseball Rules (as published by “The Sporting News”)