3 New Rules Learned This Weekend

[BretMan]

Nothing to be confused about- if you read all of the respnses in this thread! Glen, the umpire, was being sarcastic about "learning" these new rules. They were all examples of arguments offered by coaches who, obviously, had no understanding of the rules.

Do they celebrate April Fool's Day in Israel?

Not a season goes by where I don't get a couple of these arguments: On a foul tip- "Isn't that foul/doesn't she have to go back?"; On an appeal for leaving early- "Isn't that a force out?"; On a batter hit by a pitch- "Aren't the hands part of the bat?".

Those rule myths have been around forever and will probably be around for a long time to come. But every once in awhile, a coach will come up with one you haven't heard before!

Here are a few that stick out from my past couple of seasons:

- Strike three swinging. Pitch is low, but catcher makes a good catch of the pitch, while her glove is in contact with the dirt.

Coach argues that since the catcher's mitt was touching the ground, it wasn't a legal catch and should be regarded as an uncaught third strike!

- Batter hits ball to F4, who bobbles and allows batter to safely reach first without a throw. Instead of throwing the ball back to the pitcher, F4 picks up the ball and walks into the pitching circle.

While F4 is still holding the ball, and apparently apologizing to her pitcher for blowing the play, runner at first alertly scoots down to second base.

Coach wants Look Back Rule violation called because "the ball was in the circle"!

- Batter swings at pitch and whacks catcher's mitt (catcher had been setting up real close to the plate all day).

Defensive coach starts screaming, "You gotta call that, Blue!". She seems to think that this is some sort of infraction or unsportsmanlike move by the batter!

"Sure thing, coach. I'm about to call it. That's obstruction! Batter, take your base!".

- Okay, this one was from FED baseball, but you have to admit it was pretty creative!

With runner on first, pitcher begins his pitch to the plate, then stops mid-delivery. "That's a balk!" (and dead ball in FED).

Pitcher then fakes a throw to first base while still in contact with the rubber (which is really moot at that point, as the ball is already dead).

Coach wants TWO balks called and argues that his runner on first should be awarded TWO bases!

I did tell him, "Coach, you get an A+ for creativity, but an F- for understanding the balk rule!".