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MYTH
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RULE
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1. The hands are part of the bat.
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The hands are part of the player. A batter hit in the hands while holding the bat is awarded first base (except in the case described in #11 below).
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2. A batter-runner over-running first base who returns to first base while in fair territory can be tagged out.
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The rules make no mention of the batter-runner returning to first base in fair or foul territory. All that is required is that the batter-runner returns immediately to first. Furthermore, a batter-runner returning to first while in foul territory is subject to being called out if ANY movement is made towards second base, the dugout, or to chat with the first base coach before returning to the bag and the fielder makes a proper appeal. NOTE: This is an appeal play. The fielder is allowed to make the appeal if he/she has possession of the ball by either touching the base or the runner and verbally indicating an appeal.
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3. A batted ball striking home plate or coming to rest on top of home plate is a foul ball.
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Nope, it’s fair. Home plate is in fair territory, as are all the bases. Note: Umpires do not make a verbal call on fair balls. For fair balls, the umpire uses a hand signal, which is to point to fair ground.
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4. A runner must slide into a base or home plate when a tag play is likely.
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There is no “must slide” rule. Runners are required to avoid a collision with a fielder who has possession of the ball. They can do this by sliding or by running around the fielder. If the runner does not avoid a collision, then the runner is called out for not avoiding a collision, not because he didn’t slide. A head first slide (unless the runner is diving back to an overrun base) will result in the runner being called out, even if he was safe by a mile.
Notes:
- If, to avoid a collision, a runner runs around a fielder in the baseline who has possession of the ball, the runner risks being called out for being out of the baseline.
- On the other hand, if a runner runs around a fielder in the baseline who does NOT have possession of the ball, then that is OBSTRUCTION and the runner is awarded the base beyond the last base he legally touched.
So, if a runner is in a rundown between third and home and, in an effort to get back to THIRD safely, has to run around a fielder who does not have possession of the ball, OBSTRUCTION is called and the runner is awarded home, even though the runner was heading back to the third.)
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5. A special pinch runner can be used for catchers as often as necessary.
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No player can be “special pinch run for” more than once in a game. Doing this creates a de facto courtesy runner, which is explicitly against the rules. A special pinch runner can only be used once per inning, but for any player in the lineup.
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6. A foul tip is a dead ball.
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A foul tip is a ball that nicks the bat and goes immediately and directly into the catcher’s mitt. A foul tip is a live ball. Runners may advance at their own risk.
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7. The offense can have multiple time outs in the same inning to discuss strategy and tactics.
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The offense is only allowed one time out per inning to discuss offensive tactics with a batter or runner(s). However, if the defense requests time out, the offense’s coach can confer with the batter or runner(s) during such defensive time out without it counting as a time out. Note that the offense may request multiple time outs for the purpose of substitutions and such time outs do not count against the “one time out” limit.
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8. When “Infield Fly” is called AND the ball is not caught, the batter-runner is not out.
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The preconditions that must exist for the infield fly rule to be invoked are:
Less than 2 outs, runners on first and second OR bases loaded. As soon as “Infield Fly” is called and the ball remains a fair ball, the batter is out, regardless of the ball being caught or not. However, if the ball turns out to be foul AND not caught, then the infield fly rule is void and a foul ball is called. Either way, the batter is going nowhere!
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9. An infield fly is a fly ball caught in the infield.
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The preconditions that must exist for the infield fly rule to be invoked are:
Less than 2 outs, runners on first and second OR bases loaded. An infield fly is a fair fly ball that can be caught, in the umpire’s judgment, with ordinary effort by an infielder, including the pitcher. This can easily include a ball caught in the outfield. The key here is “who” makes the catch, not “where” the catch is made. By rule, bunted pop-up flies and line drives do NOT qualify as infield flies. NOTE: The ball is live and in play on infield flies. The runners may advance at their own risk.
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10. A batter squared around to bunt must remove the bat or the pitch is a strike.
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A batter can leave the bat in the “squared around” position. A strike is called only if the batter offers at the pitch and misses it or the pitch is in the strike zone. NOTE: GFLL umpires are taught that even the slightest movement of the bat towards the pitch constitutes “offering at the pitch”, so bunters beware!
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11. A batter hit by a pitch is awarded first base even if the batter swings at the pitch.
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A batter loses his right to be awarded first base if a swing is made even if the batter is struck by a pitch.
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12. A batter whose foot touches home plate when contact is made with a pitch is out.
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The chalk lines of the batter box are part of and “inside” the batter’s box. A batter’s foot can easily be touching the batter’s box chalk line AND home plate at the same time. If so, there is no call because there is no rule violation. A batter may only be called out for an “illegally batted ball” if one foot is entirely outside the box AND on the ground AND contact is made with the pitch. The ball can be fair or foul – doesn’t matter. The umpire calls the ball dead, the batter is out, and no runners may advance or score.
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13. A team can start a game with 9 players, but can continue with 8 should one of the starters be injured and no substitutes are available.
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A game can never start or continue to be played when one team has fewer than 9 players it can field. 9 is the minimum. Period.
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14. When a fielder touches a batted ball, the position of the fielder is a determining factor when making a fair/foul call.
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First and foremost, once a ground ball passes over or to the inside of first of third base AND the umpire signals fair ball, it is a fair ball regardless of what happens next. For fly balls and ground balls that have not yet passed over or to the inside of first and third base, the position of the fielder is irrelevant when determining fair/foul. In these cases, fair/foul is determined solely by the position of the ball relative to the ground when it is first touched by the fielder. If the ball is first touched when it is on or over foul ground, it is a foul ball, regardless of where the fielder is standing. If the ball is first touched when it is on or over fair ground, it is a fair ball, regardless of where the fielder is standing. Remember, the chalk baselines are completely in fair territory.
Example: Runners on first and second, 1 out. (Infield fly rule pre-conditions are set.) Batter pops up between home and first, umpire calls: “Infield fly, if fair.” The first baseman comes in and positions himself under the ball, which just happens to result in both feet being in foul ground. But the ball drifts back over fair territory and the fielder, still having his feet in foul territory, leans over into fair territory to attempt the catch. The ball touches the fielder’s glove while it is over fair territory, but the catch is not made and the ball ricochets off the glove and comes to rest in foul territory. Meanwhile, the base runners have taken off and easily advance to third and second.
What’s the Call? Fair ball, batter is out due to the infield fly rule, the ball is live, and advances by base runners are legal.
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15. A pitch that bounces and then hits the batter is a dead ball before it hits the batter and therefore the batter is NOT awarded first base.
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The ball is live and in play until such time as it hits the batter and the umpire declares a dead ball. The batter is awarded first base. NOTE: The only time a ball is a dead ball is when the umpire calls it a dead ball or calls time out. There are no “naturally occurring” dead balls. Even a ball in foul territory is not dead until the umpire signals that it is dead.
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16. A pitcher may begin his pitching delivery as soon as he is ready to do so.
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The rules require that the pitcher give the batter “a reasonable amount of time” to get set in the batter’s box before commencing delivery. GFLL umpires are taught that a “reasonable” amount of time is two seconds from the time both the batter’s feet are in the box.
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17. Managers/coaches can appeal plays to the umpire.
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Only players can appeal a play. Managers should be mindful of this and avoid shouting out an appeal to the umpire. The umpire will simply ignore such “requests” from the manager and it will appear as if the umpire is being unresponsive when in fact the umpire is simply following the rules. Managers should teach their players how to make an appeal. (Note: The ball must be live or in play when an appeal is made.)
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