THINK YOU KNOW LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL?

This quiz contains questions regarding the most frequently misinterpreted rules.
See if you have the correct ruling for the following situations and know your rule book.

1. ARE THE HANDS CONSIDERED PART OF THE BAT?

Answer: No. See rule 2.00 Person, Touch, Strike(e)(f). 6.08(b). If the batter is hit anywhere on his body, including the hands, it is a strike if he is swinging at the pitch or is hit in the strike zone.

Being hit on the hands is an immediate dead ball, and is NEVER a foul ball. It is a strike if he is swinging at the pitch or is hit in the strike zone. If it is strike three, the batter is out. (Rule 6.05 (e))

If the batter is hit anywhere on his body, including the hands, it is considered a Ball if he did not swing and the ball was not in the strike zone.

2. A BATTER WITH TWO STRIKES IS HIT ON HIS FIST WHILE SWINGING AT THE PITCH. IS HE OUT, OR IS HE AWARDED FIRST BASE, OR IS IT A FOUL BALL?

Answer: He is out. Rule 2.00 Strike(e), Person and Touch. The hands are NOT part of the bat. See answer to question #1 above.

3. IF A BATTED BALL HITS THE PLATE FIRST, IS IT A FOUL BALL?

Answer: No. The plate is in fair territory and is treated the same as the ground. Rule 2.00 Fair, Foul. If it settles on the plate it is also a fair ball.

4. IS THE BALL ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY DEAD WHEN THE UMPIRE CALLS "ILLEGAL PITCH"?

Answer: No. If the pitcher throws a pitch or throws to a base after the call, the ball is live (delayed dead). At the end of the play, the Illegal Pitch will be enforced or ignored depending on what happened. If ALL runners advance on the play, the Illegal Pitch is ignored. If ANY runner is put out, or does not advance on the play, the Illegal Pitch is enforced from the time of the Illegal Pitch. (Rule 8.05 PENALTY)

5. IF A PITCH HITS THE GROUND, THEN HITS THE BATTER, AND THE BATTER DID NOT SWING, IS THE BATTER ENTITLED TO FIRST BASE?

Answer: Yes. A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't have to be in-flight to be a pitch. The batter can hit a ball off the ground and it is a legal hit. The ball is dead when it hits the batter. The batter is awarded first. Rule 2.00 Pitch, 5.09(a), 6.08(b).

6. IF A BATTER SWINGS AND HITS A PITCH WITH PART OF HIS FOOT OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX, IS THE BATTER OUT?

Answer: No. A batter is out for illegal action when hitting a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box. (Rule 6.06 (a))

7. MUST THE BATTER TURN TO HIS RIGHT WHEN RETURNING TO FIRST BASE AFTER A SAFE HIT?

Answer: No. The runner is out when tagged, only if the umpire judges that he made an attempt to go to second base after he reached first. Rule 7.08(c) EXCEPTION and 7.10(c). An attempt is a judgment call. Usually an attempt is judged when the runner takes a step toward second with thoughts of going and lifts the other foot off the ground and moves it toward second.

8. WHEN A FIELDER THROWS THE BALL OUT-OF-PLAY, ARE THE RUNNERS AWARDED THE BASE THEY WERE GOING TO, PLUS ONE?

Answer: No. If the wild throw is the first play by an infielder, runners are awarded 2 bases from the bases they held at the time of the pitch. If it is the second play by an infielder, or any throw from an outfielder, it is 2 bases from where they were physically positioned when the wild throw was released by the fielder. Not from the time it went out-of-play. It makes no difference which direction they were running at the time of the throw. If all runners have advanced at least one base before the release of the wild throw that was the first by an infielder, all runners are awarded 2 bases from where they were positioned at the time of the release. Rule 7.05(g) & APPROVED RULING.

9. AT ALL LEVELS OF PLAY, THE RUNNER MUST SLIDE IF THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER IS FIELDING THE BALL ON A CLOSE PLAY, OR HAS THE BALL. TRUE OR FALSE?

Answer: False. There is no must slide rule. The runner must slide, OR attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball waiting to make a tag. The runner may NEVER deliberately crash into the defender, with or without the ball. However, if an unavoidable collision occurs on a close play, the runner is NOT out. In an attempt to get around the fielder, the runner may not go more than three feet from his/her baseline. Rule 7.08(a)(3).

10. IF A FIELDER IS BLOCKING THE BASE PATH BEFORE HE CATCHES A THROW, IS THIS ALWAYS INTERFERENCE?

Answer: No. First, interference is something the offense does illegally. A fielder who does not have the ball and is not in the act of fielding, is guilty of OBSTRUCTION. If the throw is in flight and CLOSE to the fielder, he has a right to move wherever it is necessary to catch the ball. Otherwise, he must get out of the way. It is the umpire's judgment as to whether or not the fielder is in the "act of fielding". Rule 2.00 Obstruction. Rule 7.06(a)(b).

11. THE SHORTSTOP HAS THE BALL MUCH TOO FAR FROM THE RUNNER ADVANCING FROM SECOND BASE TO TAG HIM. THE RUNNER ZIG-ZAGS 6 FEET TO EACH SIDE OF THE BASE LINE AS HE RETREATS TO SECOND. IS HE OUT FOR RUNNING OUT OF THE BASELINE?

Answer: No. Being "out of the baseline" applies at the time the runner moves out of the base line "to avoid a tag", not before. (Rule 7.08 (a) (1))

12. DEFINITION OF THE "BASELINE".

Answer: The runner's base line is established when a tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base to which he/she is attempting to reach. Not the line between the bases.

For Example: Imagine a player making a wide turn around Third Base and coming home. The player almost runs to the fence in making his/her turn around Third, this player is well away from the foul line running between Third and Home but is not "out of the baseline". If the Catcher was thrown the ball and the runner had no choice but to try and avoid the tag from the waiting Catcher, his/her baseline would be a straight line from the point by the fence to home plate. The runner would not be allowed to stray 3 feet on either side of this baseline he created in attempting to avoid the tag at Home.

13. AN OUTFIELDER MAKES A RUNNING CATCH, TAKES 4 STEPS AFTER CATCHING THE BALL, FALLS DOWN, ROLLS OVER AND STANDS UP, THEN DROPS THE BALL. IS THE BATTER OUT?

Answer: No. This is not a legal catch. The release of the ball must be voluntary and intentional. The length of time the ball is held is irrelevant, unless the fielder has complete control of his body and the umpire judges he has complete control of the ball. Rule 2.00 Catch.

14. WHEN THE INFIELD-FLY RULE IS IN EFFECT, IS THE BATTER AUTOMATICALLY OUT IF HE HITS A POP-FLY IN THE INFIELD?

Answer: Yes, IF the ball can be caught with ordinary effort. This is a judgment call. If the umpire believes it required more than ordinary effort, the batter is not out. Rule 2.00 Infield-fly. It is not an infield-fly simply because it is hit within the infield. The ball must be judged to be able to be caught with ORDINARY EFFORT. The ball may also be caught in the outfield and still be an infield-fly, IF it could be caught with ordinary effort by a fielder who was stationed in the infield at the time of the pitch.

15. IF THE UMPIRES DECLARE "INFIELD-FLY THE BATTER'S OUT" BUT THE FIELDER DROPS THE BALL, CAN THE RUNNERS ADVANCE?

Answer: Yes. The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of being put out. The only difference between an infield-fly and an outfield-fly is; the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not. Runners may tag-up after a catch or run if no-catch. Since the batter is out all forces are removed. Rule 2.00 Infield-fly.

16. IF THE BASE COACH SLAPS HANDS WITH A RUNNER AS HE PASSES WHILE THE BALL IS ALIVE, IS THE RUNNER OUT?

Answer: No. This is a judgment call. If the base coach, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists that runner in returning to or leaving the base, the runner is out. Merely a hand slap or pat on the back is not grounds for an out. (Rule 7.09(I))

17. AS THE BATTER ROUNDS THIRD AFTER HITTING A HOME RUN, HIS TEAMMATES HUG HIM AND PAT HIM ON THE BACK AND SLAP HANDS. SHOULD THE BATTER BE CALLED OUT?

Answer: No. The ball is dead after the ball leaves the field and all runners may advance without liability to be put out. If any runner misses a base, that runner may be put out on appeal only after the ball is put back in play. The ball is put in play when the pitcher has the ball while standing on the rubber and the umpire says "Play." (Rule 5.02).

18. A RUNNER ADVANCES A BASE ON A PITCH THAT WAS TIPPED BY THE BATTER AND CAUGHT BY THE CATCHER. MUST THE RUNNER RETURN TO HIS ORIGINAL BASE?

Answer: No. The ball is live on a foul-tip. If the tip is not caught it is a foul-ball and the ball is dead. If it is caught, it is a strike and the ball is live. This applies for strike 1, 2 or 3. It is not a foul-tip by definition, unless it is caught. If it is not caught, it is by definition, a foul ball. (Rule 2.00 Foul-tip)

19. IN LITTLE LEAGUE, MAY A COACH OR MANAGER WARM-UP THE PITCHER BEFORE THE GAME STARTS?

Answer: No. Adults may not warm-up any players at anytime (in between innings or in the bullpen). This applies to all divisions of Little League. (Rule 3.09)

20. IN LITTLE LEAGUE, MUST THE CATCHER WEAR A CATCHER'S MASK DURING PREGAME INFIELD PRACTICE?

Answer: Yes. This applies to all divisions. Also, any player who warms up the pitcher between innings must wear a Catcher's Mask - all divisions of play. (Rule 1.17)

21. THE BATTER WHO BATTED OUT OF ORDER IS THE PERSON DECLARED OUT.

Answer: Who is called out and what is done depends on when the appeal is made. There are three different timeframes when the appeal occurs. (Rule 6.07)

• The first is when an appeal is made while the improper batter is still at the plate. In this case, the proper batter simply replaces the improper batter and resumes whatever ball/strike count the improper batter had attained.

• The second timeframe is an appeal after the improper batter has completed his/her turn at bat, but before the very first pitch to the next batter (or very next play or attempted play). In this case, the proper batter (the one who should have batted) is declared out and the next batter is the batter who follows the proper batter. The improper batter's at-bat is nullified and any advances made on the final pitch are nullified. In this case, the next batter may be the same exact batter who just batted improperly.

Example: The first two batters of the 2nd inning are supposed to be in order Alvin and Bobby. Bobby bats first (improperly) and singles. The defensive team realizes that Alvin was supposed to be the first batter and appeals before the first pitch to the next batter. The umpire will declare Alvin out, because he failed to bat in turn (he was the proper batter). Bobby's single will be nullified because of a ball batted by an improper batter and Bobby will come to the plate again, because he is the next proper batter.

• The third timeframe is when the out-of-turn batter is appealed after his/her at bat is completed and a pitch is made to the next batter before the appeal (or a play is attempted or made before the appeal). In this case, no one is declared out. Once the next pitch is made to a batter after an improper batter, the batter batted out of turn becomes what the rules call a "legalized improper batter". The next batter to a legalized improper batter will be the next person up in the order after the legalized improper batter. No action will be taken in this instance, other than to assure the official scorebook is properly marked and up to date.

22. IF THE BATTER DOES NOT PULL THE BAT OUT OF THE STRIKE ZONE WHILE IN THE BUNTING POSITION, IT IS AN AUTOMATIC STRIKE.

Answer: A strike is an attempt to hit the ball, simply holding the bat over the plate is not an attempt.

A bunt is a batted ball not swung at, but INTENTIONALLY met with the bat and tapped slowly.

If no attempt is made to make contact with a ball outside the strike zone while in the bunting stance, it should be called a ball. An effort must be made to intentionally meet the ball with the bat. (Rule 2.00 Definition of Terms: Bunt)

23. THE BATTER IS OUT IF HE/SHE STARTS FOR THE DUGOUT BEFORE GOING TO FIRST AFTER A DROPPED THIRD STRIKE.

Answer: The batter may attempt first base any time prior to entering the dugout or a dead ball area. First base must be unoccupied before 2 outs, or if there are two outs, first base can be occupied. (Rule 6.09)

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS DESCRIBE PLAYS:

24. TWO OUT, RUNNERS ON FIRST AND SECOND BASE. BATTER HITS SINGLE, RUNNER ON SECOND SCORES, RUNNER ON FIRST BASE MISSED SECOND BUT REACHES THIRD. THE DEFENSE PROPERLY APPEALS THAT HE MISSED SECOND. DOES THE RUN WHICH SCORED COUNT?

Answer: No. Because the runner started at first this is a force-out. EXCEPTIONS: (2). No run can score if the third out is a force-out. ( Force-play, Rule 4.09 (a))

25. ONE OUT, RUNNERS ON FIRST AND SECOND. BATTER HITS A POP FLY BETWEEN THIRD AND HOME, THE UMPIRE CALLS "INFIELD FLY IF FAIR", THE FIELDER UNDER THE BALL, LETS THE BALL STRIKE THE GROUND UNTOUCHED IN FOUL TERRITORY, THE BALL THEN ROLLS INTO FAIR TERRITORY. THE UMPIRE RULES AN INFIELD FLY AND DECLARES THE BATTER OUT. RIGHT OR WRONG?

Answer: Right. This is a fair ball, therefore it is an infield fly. (Rule 6.05(e))

26. BASES FULL, TWO OUT, BATTER WALKS. CATCHER THROWS BALL TO FIRST BASEMAN, BALL GETS BY HIM INTO RIGHT FIELD. ALL RUNNERS ON BASE SCORE WITH THE BATTER REACHING SECOND. THE DEFENSE APPEALS THAT THE BATTER-RUNNER MISSED FIRST. THE UMPIRE AGREES AND CALLS HIM OUT. HOW MANY RUNS SCORE?

Answer: None. EXCEPTIONS (1) No run can score if the batter is put out before touching first. Runners must touch all bases including those they are awarded. If the runner attempts to advance to the next base, or reaches the next base, he is considered to have "reached" the base he was awarded. If he did not touch the base he was awarded, he is liable to be put out on appeal. (Rule 4.09(a))

27. RUNNER GOES FAR OUT OF THE BASE LINE TO AVOID A FIELDER TRYING TO FIELD A FAIR BATTED BALL. UMPIRE DECLARES THE RUNNER OUT. RIGHT OR WRONG?

Answer: Wrong. The runner must avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball and is not out for running out of the base line. Rule 7.08(b) and 7.09(l) makes him out if he does not avoid the fielder.

28. RUNNERS ON SECOND AND THIRD, TWO OUT, EITHER PLAYER LEAVES TOO EARLY, BATTER HITS A CLEAN DOUBLE AND BOTH RUNS SCORE. HOW MANY RUNS COUNT?

Answer: ONE. Basically, the batted ball has to force runners around the bases in this situation otherwise they are put back on base. The clean double would force the runner on second to move to Third and the runner on Third would score. Rule 7.13. (Example 13).

29. BASES LOADED, ANY RUNNER LEAVES TOO SOON, BATTER REACHES SAFELY ON ANY BALL BUNTED OR HIT WITHIN THE INFIELD. WHAT IS THE RULING?

Answer: All runners advance one base except the runner advancing from Third base. The runner advancing from Third is Removed, No run scores and No out is charged. If on the play, a putout at any base results in an open base, the runner who was on Third and scored, returns to Third base and No run scores. Rule 7.13 (Example 15) - FYI, there are 16 of these examples.

30. RUNNER GOING FROM SECOND TO THIRD BUMPS INTO THE SHORTSTOP WHO WAS STANDING IN THE BASE PATH WITHOUT THE BALL. THE THIRD BASEMAN, WHO FIELDED THE BALL, COMES OVER AND TAGS THE RUNNER WITH THE BALL. IS THE RUNNER OUT?

Answer: No. This is Obstruction. (Rule 2.00, 7.06)