Given how the Etna v Quincy softball playoff game ended today, guess we better look at the “Look back” rule. This was originally posted in March, 2012.

Art. 1 The look back rule will be in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession of the ball within the pitcher’s circle.

Art. 2 The runner(s) may stop once, but then must immediately return to the base or attempt to advance to the next base.

Art. 3 Once the runner stops at a base for any reason, she will be declared out if she leaves the base.

Art. 4 Responsibilities of batter-runner after completing a turn at bat, and while the pitcher has the ball within the 16-foot pitching circle, including a base on balls or a dropped third strike are as follows:

A. A batter-runner who rounds first base towards second may stop, but then must immediately, without stopping, return to
first or attempt to advance to second.

B. A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and immediately stops, must then return non-stop to
first or attempt to advance to second base.

(more…)

Last week, Umpire Dale Anzo asked our readers to rule on the following scenario:

The scenario

Bases loaded one out.

Pop fly to the left fielder, who catches the ball.

The runners on 3rd and 2nd tag legally, but the runner on first does not.

Defense throws the ball to first base for a double play.

Runner on third scores before the runner on 1st is declared out.

What do you have? Does the run score?

The Answer: (more…)

Last week, Umpire Dale Anzo presented two scenarios involving an errant throw by a pitcher during a pick off attempt at first base. The scenarios apply only to baseball.

Scenario one

Runner on 1st base. The pitcher steps off of the mound and attempts to pick off the runner but throws the ball out of play. Where do you put the runner?

The runner gets two bases from the last legal, which would put him at third base. In this case, the pitcher’s error is treated the same as any other fielder’s because he has stepped off the mound.

Scenario two

Same situation but the pitcher does the “spin move” to first. Where do you put the runner? (more…)

Several days ago, Umpire Dale Anzo posed this question:

1. Runner on first base no one out.

2. Line shot hit back at the pitcher that is deflected off the pitcher and hits the runner between 1st and 2nd.

What if anything do you have?

Answer

The simple answer is the runner is not out and the ball is live IF the umpire does not feel that an infielder would have had a play on the ball with the possibility of getting an out.

Rule

Rule 8 Section 4 Art. 2 k. (more…)

At the Lady Miner Classic in Yreka last weekend there was a situation where there was a runner on first with one out. The runner was attempting to steal second, when the batter interfered with the catcher’s throw. The umpire initially ruled that the batter was out, and returned the runner to first base. Then, the umpire changed the call and ruled the runner out.

I texted Dale Anzo to find out what the proper call is. Below is the actual rule.

Rule 7 Section 3 Art. 5 states:

Interfere with catcher’s fielding or throwing by:

a. leaning over home plate,

b. stepping out of the batter’s box,

c. making an other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner, or

d. failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to
move away. (more…)

Okay, for the nine millionth time, here are the rules on sliding. Please note that the runner is NEVER SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED TO SLIDE.

According to Anzo:

If you look in the high school baseball or softball rule books, you will never find anywhere in there that a runner has to slide. What it does say is that a runner must slide legally, or if the fielder has the ball he or she must “give up.”

Now you may be asking yourself, what is a legal slide?  A legal slide may be either feet first or head first.  If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, the runner shall be within reach of the base with either hand or a foot when the slide is completed.

Illegal slides:
1. The runner uses a rolling or cross-body slide into the fielder.
2. The runner’s raised leg is higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a standing position.
3. The runner goes beyond the base and makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder.
4. The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg.
5. The runner tries to injure the fielder. (more…)

Interference is judged and penalized several different ways, depending on where the interference occurs and who caused it. There are many different offensive interference situations:

1. batter in the box after a swing
2. batter in the box after a pitch is caught
3. batter in the box after a pitch is missed by the catcher
4. batter out of the box
5. coach interference
6. on-deck batter or other player interference

7. runner interference with a batted ball

The runner must avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball. The fielder’s protection begins the moment the ball is hit. That protection continues as he completes his initial play, up through the act of throwing. His protection ends if he misplays the batted ball and has to move more than a step and a reach to recover it. Umpire school manual.

Contact with the fielder is not necessary for interference to be called. If the runner does not avoid the fielder, the ball is dead and he is out. No other runners may advance beyond the base they last held at the time of the interference. Rule 7.09(L). If the batter-runner has not reached first base, runners remain at their bases held at the time-of-pitch. 7.08(b) (more…)

This is a rule change concerning being hit by a pitch. It applies only to softball.

Rule 8 Section 1 Art. 2 reads

A batter is awarded first base when:

b: a pitched ball is entirely in the batter’s box and it strikes the batter or her clothing. No attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch is required. However, the batter may not obviously try to get hit by the pitch.

C. a pitched ball (not entirely in the batter’s box) not swung at, nor called a strike, touches any part of the batter’s person or clothing. It does not matter if the ball strikes the ground before hitting the batter. The batter’s hands are not considered part of the bat. (more…)

Last week, umpire Dale Anzo presented the scenario below, and asked the readers to make the call.. Emerson Bryan, Scott Pynes, and Mitch Eastlick posted pretty much correct answers on the SiskiyouYouth facebook page:

The batter is out.

Rule 6.06(c) He (batter) interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s
box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base.

EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if
runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference.

Comment: If the batter interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall call
“interference.” The batter is out and the ball dead. No player may advance on such interference
(offensive interference) and all runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the
umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference.

If, however, the catcher makes a play and the runner attempting to advance is put out, it is to be
assumed there was no actual interference and that runner is out–not the batter. Any other runners on the
base at the time may advance as the ruling is that there is no actual interference if a runner is retired. In
that case play proceeds just as if no violation had been called.

If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and,
in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing
before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball
will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.

Scenario

Two outs with a runner on 3rd.

Passed ball gets by the catcher.

Runner on 3rd is trying to score. (more…)

Okay, so I get a call from Dale Anzo last night with another baseball/softball rule question for our well versed readers. I’m like, “Why don’t you email it to me?” Apparently Anzo wasn’t able to properly operate his computer at the moment (must have been too sore from standing around). So, I listened and then said…. Well, I can’t tell you what I said because it’s the answer, and what fun would that be?

The scenario

There’s a runner on 2nd base.

The runner gets caught in a run down between 2nd and 3rd base

While the runner is attempting to get back to 2nd, he is obstructed by the shortstop

The second baseman gets the ball

Seeing that he is about to be tagged out, the runner slaps the ball out of the second baseman’s glove

What is you call?

To answer, go to our facebook page.

(more…)

The answer to the scenario outlined below by umpire Dale Anzo is: batter is out, and runner is awarded third base.

The batter being out is obvious. His line drive was caught. Because the defense put the ball out of play, the runner winds up with a free pass for not touching second base in his attempt to get back to first to avoid being doubled up. I guess the reasoning is that the defense’s mistake made it impossible for the runner to go back and touch second (because it’s a dead ball). The runner does, however, have to touch second on his way to third when he is awarded third base. Otherwise, he could be called out on appeal once the ball is back in play.

To see reader’s answers, go to our facebook page.

Scenario

Runner on 1st base.

No outs.

Runner is stealing.

Batter hits a line drive to the 3rd basemen which is caught by him.

The runner touches second and rounds it on his way to third.

When the runner sees that the ball is caught, he tries to get back to first but he does not retouch 2nd base.

The 3rd basemen tries to throw the runner out going back to first and throws the ball out of play. (more…)

Here is the answer to the question that umpire Dale Anzo asked a few days ago. Jered Ratliff from Etna pretty much nailed it and was the first to answer. Greta Jones from McCloud also did pretty well with her answer.

The question:

1. Bases are loaded.

2. The batter receives ball four.

3. He/she walks half way down to first base, and then goes into the team’s dugout and takes of their helmet.

What is your call with no outs or one out? What is your call with two outs? In either case, can a run score?

Ratliff’s answer:

I believe that the batter is immediately considered a batter-runner. Each of the runners then advance. The helmet being removed is a red herring, as it’s entry into the team area that deems the batter-runner out.

My guess: runners advance and the run scores regardless of how many outs.

The only thing different is that the run does not score if there are already 2 outs.

Here’s another twist: with less than 2 outs, let’s say that the batter walks, goes into the dugout and is called out, and the base runners all just stand on their respective bases. Do the umpires move them along as if it were a normal bases loaded walk situation. Or, since the runners stayed put, does it just remain bases loaded, without anyone advancing?

(more…)

Photos by Roxann Anzo

Local umpires Dale Anzo and Scott Letendre umpired a series of baseball games between the Chico Heat and Yuma Scorpions last week. The Scorps featured former Oakland Athletics players Jose Conseco and Tony Phillips. You may notice that Philips looks less than thrilled with Anzo in the photo above.

According to Anzo, the conversation went something like this:

Phillips: that was outside.

Anzo: caught the corner.

Phillips: no, that ball was outside.

Anzo: it caught the corner. Get back in the box.

So Anzo, did you get his autograph? (Phillips was the 2nd baseman on the As’ 1989 world championship team. (more…)

Here is the final question of Umpire Dale Anzo’s three part question about a runner being hit by a batted ball in fair territory. This part is a bit bizarre but I suppose it could happen.

Question:

There is a runner on third base.

Batter bunts the ball on a squeeze play.

Runner slides into home and is laying on the plate.

Ball has back spin on it. (more…)

Time’s up. The answer is that the two times a runner can be hit by a batted ball in fair territory and not be called out are: 1. Infield fly–the batter is out, the ball is dead, runner stays at the base he was on when hit. 2. Batted ball is past infielder when the runner is hit, and no other infielder has a play on the ball (umpire’s judgment on whether or not another infielder could have made the play)

The first question in a series of three concerning a runner being hit bay a batted ball was: With one out a runner is standing on second base when the batter hits a line drive and hits the runner standing on second. What’s the call?

The answer is: is that the runner is out, even though he’s standing on the base. The ball is dead, and the batter gets first base.

The second Q: (more…)

Time is up. The correct answer is that the runner is out, even though he’s standing on the base. The ball is dead, and the batter gets first base.

Now umpire Dale Anzo is working a pyramid scheme (not really). Seems he has a series of three related questions, with each one getting tougher to answer. He’ll reveal the second and third over the next couple of days.

Question-1 (more…)

Time’s up. The answers are: a batter can advance to first base on a dropped third strike anytime first base is unoccupied. Also, a batter can advance to first base on a dropped third strike with two outs, even if the base is occupied.

Okay, here’s what seems to be an easy rule. Yet, I often see confusion on the diamond. So I asked Anzo to give me the ruling on a batter advancing to 1st base on a dropped third strike.

The question: (more…)