A hypothetical situation

[malt-tones]

Q: If a batted ball hits the pitching rubber and ends up in foul territory, is it fair or foul?

[SABR Matt]

If a batter lines one off the pitcher himself and it goes foul it's a fair ball...but I'm not sure about the rubber...that would be like hitting a pebble and kicking foul which is commonly ruled as a foul ball, so I'd guess that could be called foul...if it hits a catwalk or a speaker and lands fair it's a fair ball...so I imagine the rule is the same...where it ends up is what the call is...if it lands foul...it's foul.

[malt-tones]

Hi SABR Matt,

I believe that a batted ball has to pass an infielder other than the pitcher to be ruled fair, albeit in front of a base. So if a ball hits the pitcher and bounds foul, it is foul.

As far as MLB is concerned, I could be wrong. I have only umpired in the high school and college ranks, I have never officiated a "professional" (major or minor) league game.

[Tango Tiger]

I don't see anywhere in the rules where the rubber is any different than the ground. So, if it lands inside the bases foul, it's foul. If it lands outside the bases foul, it's fair.

[malt-tones]

another Q: If a batting out of order situation is brought to the attention of the umpire (the umpire, officiates, he/she does not keep score) while the at-bat is in progress (by either team), what is the call?

[malt-tones]

I don't see anywhere in the rules where the rubber is any different than the ground. So, if it lands inside the bases foul, it's foul. If it lands outside the bases foul, it's fair.

The rubber is just like the on-deck batters disregarded bat, it is not part of the playing surface, or field; however the umpires are and so is the discarded bat of the hitter.

As far as being fair, after hitting the rubber, it must pass an infielder, than it is judged a fair ball. Again, this is "amateur" rules, but pro rules are usually very similar.

[SABR Matt]

Hi SABR Matt,

I believe that a batted ball has to pass an infielder other than the pitcher to be ruled fair, albeit in front of a base. So if a ball hits the pitcher and bounds foul, it is foul.

As far as MLB is concerned, I could be wrong. I have only umpired in the high school and college ranks, I have never officiated a "professional" (major or minor) league game.

No...I've seen Billy Wagner get blasted with a line drive that hit him right in the skull and ricocheted foul but it was a single.

I'm quite certain that if any player touches a ball in fair territory and that contact results in a foul ball...it's fair.

[Ubiquitous]

Q: If a batted ball hits the pitching rubber and ends up in foul territory, is it fair or foul?


Rule 2.00 (Foul Ball) Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher’s rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.

[Ubiquitous]

another Q: If a batting out of order situation is brought to the attention of the umpire (the umpire, officiates, he/she does not keep score) while the at-bat is in progress (by either team), what is the call?


Here you go

6.07
BATTING OUT OF TURN.
(a) A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his proper turn, and another batter completes a time at bat in his place.
(1) The proper batter may take his place in the batter’s box at any time before the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and any balls and strikes shall be counted in the proper batter’s time at bat.
(b) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and the defensive team appeals to the umpire before the first pitch to the next batter of either team, or before any play or attempted play, the umpire shall (1) declare the proper batter out; and (2) nullify any advance or score made because of a ball batted by the improper batter or because of the improper batter’s advance to first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise.
NOTE: If a runner advances, while the improper batter is at bat, on a stolen base, balk, wild pitch or passed ball, such advance is legal.
(c) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and a pitch is made to the next batter of either team before an appeal is made, the improper batter thereby becomes the proper batter, and the results of his time at bat become legal.
(d) (1) When the proper batter is called out because he has failed to bat in turn, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the proper batter thus called out; (2) When an improper batter becomes a proper batter because no appeal is made before the next pitch, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such legalized improper batter. The instant an improper batter’s actions are legalized, the batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.
Rule 6.07 Comment: The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batter’s box of an improper batter. This rule is designed to require constant vigilance by the players and managers of both teams. There are two fundamentals to keep in mind: When a player bats out of turn, the proper batter is the player called out. If an improper batter bats and reaches base or is out and no appeal is made before a pitch to the next batter, or before any play or attempted play, that improper batter is considered to have batted in proper turn and establishes the order that is to follow.
APPROVED RULING
To illustrate various situations arising from batting out of turn, assume a firstinning batting order as follows:
Abel-Baker-Charles-Daniel-Edward-Frank-George-Hooker-Irwin.
PLAY (1). Baker bats. With the count 2 balls and 1 strike, (a) the offensive team discovers the error or (b) the defensive team appeals. RULING: In either case, Abel replaces Baker, with the count on him 2 balls and 1 strike.
PLAY (2). Baker bats and doubles. The defensive team appeals (a) immediately or (b) after a pitch to Charles. RULING: (a) Abel is called out and Baker is the proper batter; (b) Baker stays on second and Charles is the proper batter.
PLAY (3). Abel walks. Baker walks. Charles forces Baker. Edward bats in Daniel’s turn. While Edward is at bat, Abel scores and Charles goes to second on a wild pitch. Edward grounds out, sending Charles to third. The defensive team appeals (a) immediately or (b) after a pitch to Daniel. RULING: (a) Abel’s run counts and Charles is entitled to second base since these advances were not made because of the improper batter batting a ball or advancing to first base. Charles must return to second base because his advance to third resulted from the improper batter batting a ball. Daniel is called out, and Edward is the proper batter; (b) Abel’s run counts and Charles stays on third. The proper batter is Frank.
PLAY (4). With the bases full and two out. Hooker bats in Frank’s turn, and triples, scoring three runs. The defensive team appeals (a) immediately, or (b) after a pitch to George. RULING: (a) Frank is called out and no runs score. George is the proper batter to lead off the second inning; (b) Hooker stays on third and three runs score. Irwin is the proper batter.
PLAY (5). After Play (4) (b) above, George continues at bat. (a) Hooker is picked off third base for the third out, or (b) George flies out, and no appeal is made. Who is the proper leadoff batter in the second inning? RULING: (a) Irwin. He became the proper batter as soon as the first pitch to George legalized Hooker’s triple; (b) Hooker. When no appeal was made, the first pitch to the leadoff batter of the opposing team legalized George’s time at bat.
PLAY (6). Daniel walks and Abel comes to bat. Daniel was an improper batter, and if an appeal is made before the first pitch to Abel, Abel is out, Daniel is removed from base, and Baker is the proper batter. There is no appeal, and a pitch is made to Abel. Daniel’s walk is now legalized, and Edward thereby becomes the proper batter. Edward can replace Abel at any time before Abel is put out or becomes a runner. He does not do so. Abel flies out, and Baker comes to bat. Abel was an improper batter, and if an appeal is made before the first pitch to Baker, Edward is out, and the proper batter is Frank. There is no appeal, and a pitch is made to Baker. Abel’s out is now legalized, and the proper batter is Baker. Baker walks. Charles is the proper batter. Charles flies out. Now Daniel is the proper batter, but he is on second base. Who is the proper batter? RULING: The proper batter is Edward. When the proper batter is on base, he is passed over, and the following batter becomes the proper batter.

[malt-tones]

(1) The proper batter may take his place in the batter’s box at any time before the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and any balls and strikes shall be counted in the proper batter’s time at bat.

BINGO!

I have seen managers wait to use this at an advantageous time. It usually involves screw ups with who ever "wrote-out " the line-up card, or number switches. If a batter makes an out, why bring it up? If a batter gets a hit and drives in a run, then use it.

If it is during an at-bat, then the proper batter assumes the count. The fans get all irrate about this, demanding an out.

[malt-tones]

UBIQUITOUS, YO' DA' MAN!

Here is another Q that I have seen: What is the call if a live thrown ball hits the on-deck batters disregarded bat?

[RuthMayBond]

UBIQUITOUS, YO' DA' MAN!

Here is another Q that I have seen: What is the call if a live thrown ball hits the on-deck batters disregarded bat?You could PM bluezebra

[bluezebra]

You could PM bluezebra

You don't have to. I'm here.

The thrown ball remains live.

Bob

[malt-tones]

I believe the proper call is, for a disregarded on-deck batters bat, is the runner closest to home is out and the ball becomes dead. The disregarded on-deck batters bat is not considered part of the playing field; however, a disregarded batters bat, a disregarded cathers mask, and an umpire are considered part of the playing field.

In the BIGS, this should never occur.

[honus14]

I believe the proper call is, for a disregarded on-deck batters bat, is the runner closest to home is out and the ball becomes dead. The disregarded on-deck batters bat is not considered part of the playing field; however, a disregarded batters bat, a disregarded cathers mask, and an umpire are considered part of the playing field.

In the BIGS, this should never occur.
This is not correct. Bluezebra's answer is correct.

[honus14]

As far as being fair, after hitting the rubber, it must pass an infielder, than it is judged a fair ball. Again, this is "amateur" rules, but pro rules are usually very similar.

What rule set are you using? I am not aware of any rules that specify "passing an infielder" as a test of fair/foul.

[Tango Tiger]

Rule 2.00 (Foul Ball) Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher’s rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp

Right, so the point is the rubber is not treated any differently than a pebble or badly cut grass on the field.

Also, there's no "must pass infielder" rule in MLB, as others are suggesting. It's simply denoted by the 1b and 3b bags.