You Make the Call - Rulings

1. Can a batter strike out on foul ball? If you think it is possible, give an example.
Ruling – we often hear announcers talk about a batter striking out on “a foul tip”. In the rules there is no such thing as a foul tip. It is a strike. That said, there is a situation where a batter can strike out on a foul ball, and only one situation….bunting with two strikes and the bunt goes foul.


2. A runner on first (runner 2) gets a great lead and runs hard. He sees that the hit is going to fall between two fielders and keeps running. The runner on second (runner 1) runs part way to make sure that the ball falls in safely before he starts running (just in case he has to return to second if the ball is caught). Runner two passes runner one just before third base and actually steps on third before runner 1. They both make it home safely with runner one crossing the plate before runner 2. What call do you make?
Ruling – runner 1 is called out. A passing is not complete until a base is touched. As third was touched first by the following runner, he has passed runner one and put the first runner in an out position at the end of the play unless they undo the action of the pass. The only way both runners could be safe is if they both go back over third with runner 1 and then runner 2. Then runner 1 crosses third followed by runner 2 to undo the action of the passing.
If there were two outs, runner 2’s score would not count.


3. If while swinging at a pitch, the bat touches the catcher's glove. What call do you make? Does it make a difference if the batter hits a single? Or a double?
Ruling - The batter is awarded first on catcher’s interference. All runners advance if forced.
If the batter hits safely, and all other runners advance safely, it is deemed that there is no interference on the play.
If there are is a runner on base when the batter is interfered with, and the batter hits the ball but either the batter or a runner is out, the offensive manager has the option to accept either the catcher’s interference or the results of the play. If a runner was on third and it was the bottom of the 9th and the batter was out at 1st for the second out while runner scored to give offensive team the lead, the manager should take the results of the play.


4. An outfielder in fair territory positions under a deep fly ball. The outfielder catches the ball just before he hits the fence. As he hits the fence, the ball pops out of the glove and goes over the fence. What is the call?
Ruling - Home run.


5. While moving to take a ground ball, the shortstop runs in front of the runner going from second to third (not a forced play). There is no contact, but the runner had to stop before continuing. The runner gets thrown out at third in a bang-bang play. If the runner had not stopped the runner would have easily reached third safely. The runner feels that he was impeded. What is the call? Is the runner safe on interference or is the runner out?
Ruling - If there is no contact, there is no interference. If fielder is moving forward in the process of making a play and there is contact, and the fielder does not make the play, the runner is out for interference. If on the other hand fielder makes contact while not in the immediate and legitimate process of making a play, the fielder has impeded the runner and the umpire places the runner where in the umpire’s judgment the runner would have been safe.

In this case he would be deemed to be safe at third. If he had arrived safe at third and was thrown out at home, and it was not a close play, then the runner is not protected by the fielder’s interference and he is out.


6. Runners on first and third, the pitcher balks as the runner on first goes in motion. The pitcher still pitches the ball, the batter swings, the catcher interferes with the swing and the batter gets thrown out at 1st while runner from third scores and the runner from first ends up on third. What happens?
Ruling - This situation was on my level three certification exam. Here the offensive manager makes the determination. The manager has three options: a) accept the result of the play that gives him a run, b) accept the bulk and have a run with a runner on second, or b) accept the catcher’s interference and have the bases loaded. Option a) is not wise as accepting the bulk gives the team a run without an out. Depending on the score and where you are in the line-up should influence whether to take either b or c as options.