Little League and Baseball Rules Discussion
These discussions will not follow any particular format. Sometimes the discussion of the particular rule will dictate the format. If you have questions or suggestions for things to be covered in this space, please submit them to the League President. No promises that I'll be able to get to them though.
Some Rule Myths
"But Mr. Umpire, the hands are part of the bat."
Hold a baseball bat in your hands. Now let go of the bat. Where are your hands? Still connected to your arms, I hope. In the event that a batter is struck on the hand by a pitched ball, the situation is handled in the same way as any other hit batsman occurrence. The umpire will immediately call "Time, dead ball." Remember, the ball is always dead when it hits the batter, even if it rolls into fair territory. In the event that the pitch was a strike, the umpire will call "strike." If it is strike 3, the batter is out. This is NOT a foul ball. Rules: 2.00 PERSON, TOUCH, STRIKE(e) and 6.05(f)
"The batted ball hit the plate first, it's foul"
Home plate is in fair territory, just as all of the bases are.
"Foul-tip, Dead Ball"
This is one where listening to the play by play announcers on TV gets you in trouble. A foul-tip is NOT a foul ball!! A foul-tip is a ball that goes directly from the bat to the catchers glove or hand. If the catcher handles the ball cleanly, it is a foul-tip and the ball is alive. This is a strike, just as if the batter swung at the pitch and missed it. If the ball is NOT CAUGHT cleanly, then it is a foul ball. If the ball hits the catcher somewhere other than the hand or the glove, it is a foul ball. Rules: 2.00 FOUL-TIP, STRIKE