Making baseball sense and understand the rules of the game


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Welcome youth sports fans and players.  This page is dedicated to the advancement of your baseball knowledge and understanding the rules of the game...especially those that seem to come to light in the middle of a game.  Within these pages we will explore Little League playing rules and their comparisons to Major League Baseball.  You will find that there are very little differences in the actual rulings in how to play the game of baseball.  Most alterations in the rule books are to accommodate differences in age groups and physical abilities.

It is my wish to make this page fun and informative for all that visit and steps up to the challenges introduced.  The formats used are simple questions that you can think about and "jot" down your answers. When you are ready, just click on the answer link and see how close you are to the correct answer.  The questions and scenarios presented here are directly from the books of past rulings.  I have also provided links to various books and web-sites for furthering your skills and knowledge in the sport of baseball.  So...put on your thinking caps and test your knowledge.

YOU MAKE THE CALL

The Infield Fly Rule: (An actual game occurrence)

 Bases are loaded with 1 out.  The batter hits a high fly ball in the infield and the umpire calls "Infield Fly Ball"; the runner on 3rd base takes a short lead toward home and prepares to run.  The infielder, the shortstop, has the ball to pop out of his glove and the 3rd base runner advances to home.  The umpire at 3rd base calls "No Run, the runner is out on the fly rule" and awards the batter 1st base and advances the runners from 1st and 2nd to 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Was the umpire correct in making this call?

The Angry Catcher

Angered by a close play at the plate, the catcher argues heatedly with the ump, forgetting about the batter-runner, a very fast man, is steaming around the bases. In frustrated anger, the catcher insults the umpire and is ejected by the offended official. The catcher keeps on arguing with the umpire, forgetting about the batter who races around to score. Does the run count?

Knocked Out

A runner is on first when the batter singles to left. As the runner rounds second base, he is hit on the head by the throw from the outfield and is knocked unconscious. The batter-runner, the next batter and the coaches ask the umpire to call time, but he refuses. Is this correct?

Rain Out

The score is tied 5?5 when the home team comes to bat in the last half of the fifth inning. With two out and a runner on second, a sudden thunderstorm stops play and ends the game. Is this a tie game?

A Home Run

A delivery by the pitcher hits the ground in front of the plate and the umpire calls out "Ball." But the pitch skips over the plate and the batter slams it over the right field wall. Is this a homer?

He's Out or Is He?

A hard grounder is hit towards the first baseman. It hops off his glove and drops inside his shirt, which was not buttoned at the top. Seeing he will be unable to extricate the ball before the batter reaches first, the fielder places his hand over the shirt to grasp the ball and beats the man to first. Is this legal? Answer

How Much Interference?

A runner steals second base and the catcher's throw is much too high. As he slides into the bag, the second baseman throws his glove and stops the ball. Where should the umpire place the runner?

BASEBALL
FOR COACHES
AND PLAYERS
 

cover
101 Pitching Drills

 

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Little League Drills and Strategies

 

cover
Baseball Defensive Drills

 

cover
SCIENCE OF HITTING

 

cover
Baseball Skills & Drills: American

 

cover
The Baseball Coaching Bible
 

So You Missed The Base...

A two-out bases-loaded drive carries over the right fielder's head and three runs score while the batter advances to third. En route, however, he misses second base. The shortstop calls for the ball, touches second and appeals. What is the ruling?

Is This Interference?

With nobody out and a runner leading off third, a batted ball strikes third base, bounces up and strikes the runner standing in foul territory. What is the ruling?

Does The Run Count?

There are men at first and third with one out. The hitter's long blast to right field prompts the runner at third to tag up and hold, but the runner on first figures the ball won't be caught and takes off. As he rounds second, the outfielder makes the catch of the year and the runner on third races home. The other runner, in a rush to return to first, fails to retouch second. The opponents tag the bag and appeal. The runner is called out, retiring the side. Does the run count?

 

 

WELL....How did you do?  For more fun facts and trivia about baseball or basic instructions on how to improve your game, check out the links on the right.

 

The Preceding questions are excerpts from "Knotty Rules in Baseball" and a more comprehensive listing of Baseball's all time "Knotty Rules" can be viewed from Baseball Rules Trivia.

GREAT YOUTH
 BASEBALL LINKS

Baseball-Reference.com

InfoSports.net

Little League Baseball Rules

Jim's Baseball Rules and Answers

MLB Rules

Sport-Smart.com

Interactive Baseball Rules

Little League Baseball Rules @ SPORT-SMART

The Official Little League Rules

Baseball Coaching and Drills

Be A Better Hitter

Youth Pitcher.com
WebBall: Baseball Instruction for Coaches and Ballplayers

Tips From the Coach

A MUST READ SITE:
1001 Baseball Instructional Ideas

National Baseball Hall Of Fame and Museum



The quizzes above are a few examples of what to expect on these pages.  Check back again soon for future updates and more trivia.
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