Batting out
of turn and
out of play
balls are
probably a
few of the
most
confusing
and often
misinterpreted
rules. Let
take a look
the
following
situations
and see how
you do.
Situation
1 –
Charles is
scheduled to
bat but
Daniel steps
into the box
and promptly
strokes a
double to
right-center
field. The
defensive
team appeals
to the home
plate umpire
before the
next pitch
or play. The
umpire
recognizes
that Charles
was
scheduled to
bat and that
Daniel
batted out
of turn. The
umpire calls
Daniel out
and removes
him/her from
second base.
True or
False?
Situation
2 – The
fourth batter
is scheduled
to bat but
the fifth
batter hits
a single.
The seventh
batter now
bats and
takes ball The
defensive
team calls
“time” and
tells the
umpire
something is
wrong. The
umpire looks
over the
lineup card
and sees
that indeed
four should
have batted;
but because
of the pitch
to the seventh
batter the
umpire rules
that the
next proper
batter is
the sixth
batter and
should get
in the box
with a 1-0
count.
True or
False?
Situation
3 –
Ground ball
to the
shortstop
who comes up
firing,
trying to
get the
speedy
runner. But
in the
shortstop’s
haste to
throw the
batter-runner
out, the
ball is
overthrown.
The umpire
places the
batter-runner
at third base.
True
or False?
Situation
4 – The
centerfielder
fires the
ball from
center field
in an
attempt to
get the
runner
trying to
make it to
third base on
the base
hit. The
ball sails
and ends up
in the
parking lot.
At the time
of the throw
the lead
runner was
between second
and third and
the
batter-runner
was between
home and first
base. The
runners by
rule are
placed at
second and
third.
True
or False?
Here are the
answers:
Situation
1 – False.
Charles
is the one
who should
have been
called out.
Rule
6.07(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,
illegal
pitch,
Junior/Senior/Big
League balk,
wild pitch
or passed
ball, such
advance is
legal.
Situation
2 – True.
Once a pitch
is delivered
to any
batter, the
actions of
previously
improper
batter #5
become
legal.
Batter #6
follows #5
and is the
next legal
batter. Rule
6.07(b).See
above.
Situation
3 – False.
The first
play by an
infielder
allows an
umpire to
award the
runner two
bases from
his/her time
of pitch
position. In
this case
the
batter-runner
was between
home and
first base
allowing for
an award of
second base.
Rule
7.05(g).
Each runner
including
the
batter-runner
may, without
liability to
be put out,
advance: g)
two bases
when, with
no
spectators
on the
playing
field, a
thrown ball
goes into
the stands,
or into a
bench
(whether or
not the ball
rebounds
into the
field), or
over or
under or
through a
field fence,
or on a
slanting
part of the
screen above
the
backstop, or
remains in
the meshes
of the wire
screen
protecting
spectators.
The ball is
dead. When
such a wild
throw is the
first play
by an
infielder,
the umpire,
in awarding
such bases,
shall be
governed by
the position
of the
runners at
the time the
ball was
pitched; in
all other
cases the
umpire shall
be governed
by the
position of
the runners
at the time
the wild
throw was
made;
APPROVED
RULING:
If all
runners,
including
the
batter-runner
have
advanced
at least
one base
when an
infielder
makes a
wild throw
on the
first play
after the
pitch, the
award
shall be
governed
by the
position
of the
runners
when the
wild throw
was made.
Situation
4 – False.
The rule
requires a
two-base
award from
where the
runners were
at the time
of the throw
from an
outfielder
or
subsequent
throw from
an
infielder.
In this case
runners were
between second
and third and
home and first
base. Score
the lead
runner and
put the
batter-runner
on second base.
Rule
7.05(g).
See Above
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