April 2006
ASA Foul Ball / Foul Tip for 2006
Additional Clarification
The ASA Foul Ball / Foul Tip 2006 Rule Change Clarification appeared in the January 2006 Edition of the Rules Clarifications and Plays. However, because of umpire comments and questions received during Association Rules Clinics and National Umpire Schools, five words have been added to the last sentence of the first paragraph to further clarify the difference between a foul ball and a foul tip. The new first paragraph of the 2006 Rule Clarifications and Plays – January Edition should now read as follows (change is in italics and underlined):
Starting this season, 2006, the reference of the “height of the batter’s head” has been removed from the rulebook from the Foul Ball and Foul Tip definitions. This allows more opportunity for the catcher to obtain “outs” by catching foul batted balls the same as the first and third base person who is playing in. Umpires now only need to judge whether the ball moves from the bat “sharply” and “directly” versus a ball that has a “perceptible” arc and/or the catcher moves the glove to catch the ball after contact with the bat.
Recently questions have arisen regarding the enforcement of the penalty pertaining to the use of an illegal bat when a previous batter uses an illegal bat, reaches base safely, and then the next batter carries the same illegal bat into the batter’s box. The question is, which batter is out, or can two outs be called in this situation?
Rule 7, Section 6 C, Effect and Note (page 103) clearly state who is out when a pitch has been thrown; however, the Effect prior to a pitch having been thrown is not specified.
Play: The batter singles using an illegal bat. The next batter picks up the same bat and enters the batter’s box with the illegal bat in hand. The defense calls attention to the previous batter, now standing on 1B, using an illegal bat. The umpire rules that the previous batter is out since a pitch had not been thrown to the next batter. Can a current batter also be called out since they had entered the batter’s box with an illegal bat?
Ruling: POE #4 (page 136) provides insight into the intent of the rule. Using the pitch as a guideline, the ruling is as follows:
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If a pitch has not been thrown, the player who previously used the illegal bat is declared out, the bat is removed from the game, and no penalty is assessed to the next batter. All runners who advanced as a result of that batted ball are returned to the base they held at the time of the pitch. All outs recorded on that play stand.
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If a pitch has been thrown to the next batter and then the defense brings it to the attention of the umpire, the current batter is declared out, the illegal bat is removed from the game, no penalty is assessed to the previous batter, and all play stands.
Note: The intent of Rule 7, Section 6 C Effect and Note has never been to record two outs in this situation; however, presently the rule is not written very clearly.
Force Out Reinstated at First Base
A question was received regarding the reinstatement of a Force Out when a batter-runner reaches 1B and then, for any reason, steps off the base towards home plate.
Play: Batter hits the ball close to the foul line, umpire signals the ball fair and the batter-runner reaches 1B safely, overrunning it. The runner returns to 1B and, for some unknown reason, continues a few steps past 1B towards home plate. The ball is thrown to 1B where the defense tags the base. The runner now returns to the base without being tagged. Is the runner safe or out?
Ruling: The runner is out; Rule 1, Definition of a Force Out (page 55) and Rule 1, Definition of a Runner (page 58).
As supported by Rule 5, Section 5 B 1, the initial force out at 1B occurs because the batter-runner, by hitting the pitched ball, must now vacate the batter’s box and advance to 1B or be declared out. Since the batter can not return to the plate after reaching 1B safely, they become a runner (Rule 1, Definition of a Runner (page 58)). Therefore, when the runner steps off 1B towards the plate the force out is reinstated and the runner now may be put out by the defense tagging the base while in possession of a live ball or tagging the runner with the live ball before the runner returns to the base.
Play Question
SITUATION: One out, R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B and R3 on 1B, B5 hits a sharp ground ball to F5 who steps on 3B to force out R2. F5 then throws home in an attempt to retire R1, who gets in a rundown but makes it safely back to 3B. Meanwhile, R3 does not leave 1B and B5, thinking a double play had been made, enters the dugout. The ball is thrown back to F3 who is standing off 1B and, being somewhat confused, throws the ball back to the pitcher. B6 enters the batter’s box with R1 on 3B and R3 on 1B and hits a homerun on the first pitch. The scorekeeper puts four runs on the scoreboard. The defense now protests that B6 should be declared the 3rd out of the inning for entering the dugout and the homerun negated.
RULING: Even though B5 entered the dugout and should have been declared out, it was not brought to the attention of the umpire before a pitch was thrown to B6. The homerun stands but only three runs score. (Rule 8, Section 2 D; Rule 10, Section 6 C).
NOTE: Rule 8, Section 2 D states that the batter-runner is out “When the batter-runner fails to advance to first base and enters the team area after a batted fair ball, a base on balls, a hit batter (fast pitch), a dropped third strike, or catcher obstruction.” Rule 10, Section 6 C states, “The plate umpire may rectify any situation in which the reversal of an umpire’s decision or a delayed call by an umpire places a batter-runner, a runner or defensive team in jeopardy. This correction is not possible after one legal or illegal pitch has been thrown, or after the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding positions and have left fair territory on their way to the bench or dugout area, or after the last play of the game, the umpires have left the field of play.
Rule Clarifications and Plays Index
