Know the Rules- Part 15

Last Week's Question:

Here is the situation:

You are rounding second base and slide hard into third on a hit by the batter after you in the lineup.  As your foot hits the base, it becomes dislodged from the magnet and lands a few feet away from where it should be.  The throw goes into the outfield.  You score easily, but the batter-runner is now rounding second and starts to hesitate because the base isn't where it should be.  What should she do?  Run out of her way to touch the base, or touch third base where it should be located?

Answer:

When the runner dislodges the base, neither she, nor any succeeding runners in the same series of plays  are compelled to follow a base that is unreasonably out of position.

I know...kind of vague...for this one, you'll have to pay attention to the situation (ie. will you still score easily even if you go out of your way to touch the base, which would avoid any issues).  Or, is it a close game, and a close play at the base is about to occur?   Hopefully your coach will help you out.  Ultimately, though, the umpire will have to use their discretion to determine what "unreasonable" is.




This week I don't have a question...I have information!  There are a few major rule changes for fastpitch starting this season.  It's important that EVERYONE involved in the game be aware of them, so when an umpire makes a call that deviates from what has been done in the past, a full-on riot does not result.

The first one I have is for the batters.

After entering the batter's box, the batter must keep at least one foot in the box between pitches while taking practice swings and reading signals from the base coach.

There are exceptions...

- when the ball is batted fair or foul
- on a swing, slap or check swing
- when forced out of the box by a pitch
- on a wild pitch or passed ball
- when a play is attempted
- when time has been called
- when the pitcher leaves her circle or the catcher leaves the catcher's box
- on a 3 ball count that is a strike that the batter thinks is a ball

So what happens?  This is a rule that hasn't been a "RULE" in the past.  Umpires have enforced it on their own to keep the game moving.  Now the umpire is able to give any number of warnings to the batter for delaying the game by stepping out.  Strikes can also be called on the batter each time they step out.  It is up to the umpire to enforce this rule consistently between teams...but each umpire may interpret and enforce it differently.

What it means for you as a player...just keep one foot in and you'll avoid any problems!