Stump the Ump Answers– Junel 2007

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Answers:

Situation 1: The batter bunts the ball in fair territory and in running to first base unintentionally touches the ball. Umpire declares the batter runner out? Is the umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 1: RIGHT – 7.08(f). Anytime a batter-runner is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder the batter-runner is out whether it was intentional or unintentional. The ball is dead


Situation 2: Runner on third coming toward the plate to score. Catcher is waiting for the ball blocking the runner from the plate. The catcher then receives the ball and tags out the runner. Umpire declares the runner out. Is umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 2: WRONG – 2.00 & 7.06(a). The catcher was blocking the plate without the ball, this is obstruction and since the play was being made on the obstructed runner, the ball is dead. The umpire should call “time”; identify the defensive player who committed the obstruction and award base(s) accordingly.


Situation 3: The batter bats out of order and reaches base safely. An appeal is made before another pitch is delivered. The umpire declares the batter who reached base safely to be out. Is the umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 3: WRONG – 6.07. When a player bats out of turn and a proper appeal is made, the proper batter (the batter who should have batted) is the player called out and the improper batter who had reached base is removed from the base and the player who follows the proper batter (called out) is the next player to bat.


Situation 4: The batter hits an infield fly with one out and runners on first and second. The ball comes down and hits runner on second. Umpire declares batter out due to infield fly rule and also declares runner out for being hit with a fair batted ball. Is the umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 4: WRONG – 7.08(f) EXCEPTION. If a runner is touching a base when touched by an Infield Fly, that runner is not out, although the batter is out.


Situation 5: Home run hit over the fence, batter runner misses second as he/she rounds the bases. Ball is retrieved and immediately thrown to second base and an appeal made to the umpire. Umpire declares batter runner out. Is umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 5: WRONG – 7.10. For the defense to be able to make a proper appeal the ball must be live, so the umpire should say that the ball is dead and that nothing can happen while the ball is dead and he/she should not make any call/ruling until the ball has been put back into play properly.


Situation 6: Pitcher is on the pitcher’s plate, and tries to pick the runner off first base. Ball gets by first baseman and into dugout. Runner stops at second but umpire waves runner to third. Is umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 6: WRONG – 7.05(h). It is a one base award if the ball is thrown or pitched by the pitcher when he/she is in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the ball goes out of play. It is a two base award if thrown out of play by a fielder. So you have the old rule of thumb “One from the mound, two from the field”.


Situation 7: When one base runner passes another while circling the bases, which one is called out?

Answer 7: PASSING RUNNER – 7.08(h). Any runner is out when he/she passes a preceding runner before such runner is out.


Situation 8: Runners on first and third base. Batter hits infield fly which is dropped by the fielder. Umpire rules the batter out. Is umpire RIGHT or WRONG?

Answer 8: WRONG – 2.00. This situation does not meet the criteria for an infield fly. To be an infield fly there must be runners on first and second or first, second and third with less than two (2) out. So the umpire should correct the call.


Situation 9: Pitcher in trouble, manager goes out to talk to him/her. Shortstop picks up the ball and makes several pitches to the catcher from the rubber. Is the shortstop now the pitcher of that game? YES or NO!

Answer 9: YES – 3.08(a)(1). If no announcement of a substitute is made, the substitute shall be considered to have entered the game when – if a pitcher, the substitute takes position on the pitcher’s plate and throws one warm-up pitch to the catcher.


Situation 10: With no force play involved, two runners are occupying the same base and the fielder tags both while they are standing on the base. Which of the two, if any, shall the umpire declare out?

Answer 10: FOLLOWING RUNNER – 7.03. Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching the base, the following runner shall be tagged out. The preceding runner is entitled to the base, provided there is no force involved.