Just a Couple of Notes

Our team mate, good friend and all-around nice guy, Eddie Kline was scheduled to go into the hospital today for cancer surgery.  Hopefully, they caught it early and everything comes out ok (teehee).  We hope to see Eddie back on the ball field soon.  Meanwhile keep Eddie and his family in your thoughts and prayers and wish him a speedy recovery.

Rules Clarifications

The following discussion arises from several recent arguments on the field.  Let's all remember to respect the umpire's call.  We can review the call later and correct it if need be for future events. 

Base Runner hit by batted ball

Here's the situation.  A base runner is on third base. A batter hits a hot shot down the line that hits the base runner.  In the act of trying to avoid injury from the hard liner, the batter apparently jumps up a little just as he is hit in the you know where's (hope he was wearing a cup). What's the call?  

After reading the ISA SSA rulebook, I found the following and hope this clarifies the rules for everyone's benefit.   

I would say that our runner on third and the batter were in fact safe.  However it comes down to an umpires judgement as to whether the runner was on the base or not.  Since our runner jumped up a bit in self defense, it could be argued that he was not 'on' the base.  As an umpire I think I would interpret the rule to mean the ball is dead, the runner is safe at third and the batter gets first base. (and a run would score if the batter is forced home by the batter advancing to first).

The judgement call is whether the runner on third was on the base or not when he was hit by the ball given his defensive jump. 

Since we have a rule that specifies that the fielders must be behind the base lines it's unlikely that the ball would pass an infielder before striking a base runner standing on a base.  Here's the quote from the rulebook.

8.2 BATTER BECOMES A BATTER-RUNNER
B. When he bats a fair ball even though it strikes another player, umpire or their attached clothing or equipment. 
1. If the runner is hit with a fair batted ball while touching a base, he is not out. EFFECT: The ball is live or dead depending on the position of the fielder closest to the ball.  If the closest de- fensive player is in front of the base runner hit by the ball, the ball remains live.  However, after the runner in contact with the base is hit by the batted ball, it shall be the same as hitting the ground.  Since the ball remains alive, the defense is free to make whatever plays are available.   If the defensive player is behind the base runner, the ball is ruled dead, the hitter is awarded a base hit and runners are advanced ONLY if forced to advance. 
2. If the runner is hit by the ball while off base and before it passes an infielder (excluding the pitcher), the ball is dead and the hit runner is declared out. The batter-runner is awarded first base without liability to be put out. 

I would also add that a runner standing at third avoids the whole situation by standing in foul territory with just a toe on the base and dodges any such hot shots with a move toward foul territory.  That way if the runner gets hit it's just a foul ball.  It might knock you out but it'll be a foul ball. 

Note that in our league it is permissible for runners at first and third to stand over in foul territory away from the base provided they tag-up or 'recover' the base before advancing.  We allow this to avoid injury since many of us can hit the ball very hard especially down the 'pull' baselines.

Foul Balls Caught by the Catcher

By my reading, any foul ball caught in the air by any defensive player is an out.  A foul tip on the other hand is a foul ball that is only an out if it is a third strike.  In other words a foul tip caught by the catcher can be a second strike and not an out. A third strike foul tip whether caught by the catcher or not is an out and treated like a third strike foul ball.  The relevant rules follow.

1.27 FOUL BALL

A foul ball is a legally batted ball that:

A. Settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base.

B. Bounds or rolls past first or third base on or over foul territory.

C. While over foul territory; touches the person, attached equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire, or is blocked.

D. First hits the ground or is first touched over foul territory beyond first or third base. A caught fly ball is not a foul ball.

E. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter’s hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter’s box.

1.28 FOUL TIP

A Foul Tip is batted ball which goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to the catcher’s hand(s) or glove and is legally caught by the catcher. NOTE: Any batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment other than the hand(s) or glove is a foul ball and a dead ball.

7.4 STRIKE CALLED BY UMPIRE

A. For each legally pitched ball hitting the plate or mat before touching the ground and the batter does not swing. Any pitched ball that hits the ground, plate or mat cannot be legally swung at by the batter. NOTE: If the batter swings and misses the pitch prior to the ball hitting the plate or mat it is a strike. EFFECT: The ball is dead.

B. For each legally pitched ball swung at and missed by the batter. EFFECT: The ball is dead. If the batter swings at an illegal pitch, the illegal pitch is nullified.

C. For each foul tip. EFFECT: The ball is dead and the batter is out if it is the third strike.

D. For each foul ball, including the third strike.

7.6 BATTER IS OUT

G. Upon hitting a foul ball on third strike, the batter is out.  If a fly ball is caught in playable territory, the ball remains alive and runners may advance at risk of being put out.

9.4 FOUL THIRD STRIKE
Upon hitting a foul ball on a third strike, the batter is out. If the ball is caught in playable territory in the air, the ball remains live. Runners may advance at their own risk.