2 quickies

[wogdoggy]

swing and a miss ,strike 3,,dropped third strike BUT cant find the ball,,ends up being in the umps ball pouch..How many bases does the runner get?


attempted steal of home plate from runner on third,,IS the right handed batter obligated to move out of the boxx?,out of the way? neither?..can the third base runner slide right between the legs of the batter?

[BoardMember]

Don't know about baseball.

From memory, Softball:

1.) Blocked ball. One base from the last based touched at the time the ball became blocked.

2.) While the batter in not obligated to leave the batters box, the batters box IS NOT a santuary and the batter is "obligated" to avoid interfering with a play at the plate. It is stricktly a judgememt call as to whether the batter interfered with the play.

Interference (in any case) doesn't have to be intentional.

Again, all from memory......

swing and a miss ,strike 3,,dropped third strike BUT cant find the ball,,ends up being in the umps ball pouch..How many bases does the runner get?


attempted steal of home plate from runner on third,,IS the right handed batter obligated to move out of the boxx?,out of the way? neither?..can the third base runner slide right between the legs of the batter?

[Baseball gLove]

5.09
The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when --
(g) A pitched ball lodges in the umpire’s or catcher’s mask or paraphernalia, and remains out of play, runners advance one base;
Rule 5.09(g) Comment: If a foul tip hits the umpire and is caught by a fielder on the rebound, the ball is “dead” and the batsman cannot be called out. The same shall apply where such foul tip lodges in the umpire’s mask or other paraphernalia.
If a third strike (not a foul tip) passes the catcher and hits an umpire, the ball is in play. If such ball rebounds and is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground, the batsman is not out on such a catch, but the ball remains in play and the batsman may be retired at first base, or touched with the ball for the out.
If a pitched ball lodges in the umpire’s or catcher’s mask or paraphernalia, and remains out of play, on the third strike or fourth ball, then the batter is entitled to first base and all runners advance one base. If the count on the batter is less than three balls, runners advance one base.

Looks like the batter only gets 1st base.

[dw8man]

attempted steal of home plate from runner on third,,IS the right handed batter obligated to move out of the boxx?,out of the way? neither?..can the third base runner slide right between the legs of the batter?

Here is what I have found:

Rule 6.06
A batter is out for illegal action when --
(c) He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base. EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference.

So, I read that to say: if the batter does move and it interferes with the catcher, he could be called out. We had a kid steal home the other night in the HS game when the batter squared to bunt. The batter then pulled the bat back and resumed a normal stance just as the pitch and runner were getting to the plate. The catcher/coach for the other team tryed to argue that the batter interfered but the ump didn't go for it. Said the batter was making a legal bunt move and then recovered. He did not have to attempt to leave the box.

Now, I couldn't find a ruling about sliding between the legs of the batter directly but I am assuming it would be legal as long as the batter didn't interfer with the catcher. I am sure someone will correct me if that is incorrect. However, I do think this rule is interesting:

7.07
If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.

I could be wrong on this but it looks like if the catcher touches the batter while trying to tag the runner on the steal, the runner is award home (balk) and the batter gets first.

[wogdoggy]

I thought the batter could literally stand there as the runner slides through his legs???

[TG Coach]

I thought the batter could literally stand there as the runner slides through his legs???

The hitter may maintain his hitting position in the batter's box on a steal of home. The runner can go through his legs. I've seen it done. It works since the catcher's natural reaction would be to come up to the plate and around the hitter. As long as the hitter doesn't do anything intentional to interfere with the steal and attempted putout it's OK.

[Ursa Major]

A key question is whether or not the ball coming in is a pitch (i.e., thrown from the rubber), or is a throw from the pitcher, who'd stepped off the rubber when the runner broke for home. The first scenario is more likely, so I'll address it.

Certainly, if it's a legal pitch and the runner is arriving almost simultaneously, the batter need not move out of the box. (Hopefully, he has been given the take sign so as to avoid decapitating his teammate.) Once the pitch arrives and the batter hasn't swung -- let's say it's a delayed steal for some reason or the batter missed a suicide squeeze -- he probably has to clear out of the box, presumably by retreating to the backstop. It's up to the umpire, bearing in mind that the batter is giving a little wiggle room if he's not sure what's happening.

I guess the runner could go between the batter's legs, but I don't see it giving much of a benefit. The catcher should just lay the glove down a foot up the third base line from the plate, and the runner has no way to get to the plate.

[jbooth]

Don't know about baseball.

2.) While the batter in not obligated to leave the batters box, the batters box IS NOT a santuary and the batter is "obligated" to avoid interfering with a play at the plate. It is stricktly a judgememt call as to whether the batter interfered with the play.

Interference (in any case) doesn't have to be intentional.

Again, all from memory......

The batter IS obligated to leave the box if a fielder needs that space.

7.11
The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.
PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out.


Also, on a play that does NOT involve a BATTED ball, the interference indeed must be intentional to call an out. It IS a judgment call, and failure to vacate the space may be judged as intent to interfere. Interference with a BATTED ball or play on a batted ball, need not be intentional. 7.08b note.

7.09
It is interference by a batter or a runner when --
(i) He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball;

7.08
Any runner is out when --
(g) He attempts to score on a play in which the batter interferes with the play at home base before two are out. With two out, the interference puts the batter out and no score counts;

[BoardMember]

Excellent Jim. I see my memory was correct. While the batter isn't obligated to "leave the box", the batters box is not a sanctuary for allowing interference on a steal of home. POE softball.......

Thx..........

The batter IS obligated to leave the box if a fielder needs that space.

7.11
The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.
PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out.


Also, on a play that does NOT involve a BATTED ball, the interference indeed must be intentional to call an out. It IS a judgment call, and failure to vacate the space may be judged as intent to interfere. Interference with a BATTED ball or play on a batted ball, need not be intentional. 7.08b note.

7.09
It is interference by a batter or a runner when --
(i) He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball;

7.08
Any runner is out when --
(g) He attempts to score on a play in which the batter interferes with the play at home base before two are out. With two out, the interference puts the batter out and no score counts;