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.

The photo below is Anzo behind the plate and Conseco at the plate.

The last photo is Anzo (l) and Letendre (r) prior to the start of the game on Friday, August 5, 2011.

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.

No one on the defense touches the ball as it rolls back and hits the runner, who is lying on the plate.

What’s the call?

To answer, go to the SiskiyouYouth facebook page by clicking here.

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 question was: what are the two circumstances that a runner can be hit by a batted ball in fair territory and not be called out?

The answer is: 1. Infield fly–the batter is out, the ball is dead, runner stays at the base he/she 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 judgement 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:

What are the two circumstances that a runner can be hit by a batted ball in fair territory and not be called out?

To answer, go to the SiskiyouYouth facebook page by clicking here.

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

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? To answer, go to the SiskiyouYouth facebook page by clicking here.

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:

In what two situations can a batter advance to first base on a dropped third strike.

To answer, go to the SiskiyouYouth facebook page by clicking here.

The questions:

1. What happens when a player uses any part of his/her uniform and/or equipment to field a (1) batted ball or (2) a thrown ball?

2. What happens if a player uses detached uniform or equipment for fielding an infield fly?

The answers:

Any time a players uses his/her uniform or detached  equipment to field a batted ball, the batter/runner and any other runners get three bases from the time of the infraction. The rule still applies to an infield fly.

If a player uses his/her uniform or detached equipment to catch a thrown ball, all runners get two bases from the time of the infraction.

I’m pretty sure umpire Dale Anzo stayed up all night thinking this one up.

The Play:

There’s a runner on 1st with no outs.

A ground ball is hit to the pitcher.

The pitcher fields the ball and lobs it to the 1st baseman.

The field ump signals out at 1st.

The 1st baseman then throws the ball to the shortstop who has his foot on the bag.

The runner from 1st slides into 2nd after the ball beats him there but for some reason the shortstop does not get the tag down.

The field ump signals safe at 2nd base.

The manager on offense comes out and says the 1st baseman did not have his foot on the bag.

The field ump asks the plate ump for help and the plate ump agrees that he did not have his foot on the bag.

The field ump then signals the runner on 1st safe.

The question:

What is the call now at 2nd?

Click here to go to the SiskiyouYouth.com facebook page to give your answer. Let’s see if anyone gets it right.

Time is up…the answer is: It’s a balk

Go to the SiskiyouYouth.com facebook page for the explanation.

The play:

There’s a runner on 2nd base.

The pitcher turns to either bluff the runner back or attempt a pick off.

As the pitcher pivots to throw to 2nd base, the runner takes off for 3rd base.

The pitcher puts down his non pivot foot, and throws to third.

The runner is tagged out at third.

What is your call on the play?

The Play:

It does not matter how many outs.

There’s a runner at 1st.

Batter hits a shot to left field.

Runner from 1st rounds 3rd trying to score. As he rounds 3rd he is obstructed by the 3rd baseman and falls down. The runner now gets in a run down between home and 3rd.

In the mean time the batter runner is now standing on 3rd.

The runner makes his way back to 3rd safely where the fielder tags the runner then the batter runner.

What would you rule? You can go to SiskiyouYouth’s Facebook page by clicking here to try your hand at answering the question. It would be a lot more fun if you answer without looking it up. Instead, see how much you know right now.

Answer: the runner gets home and the batter runner stays at3rd base.

The answer is at the end of this article.

The situation:

There are runners on 1st and 3rd base with 1 out.

A batter hits a fly ball to right field.

The right fielder catches the ball.

The runner on 3rd tags properly, and crosses home plate.

The runner on 1st base  thinks the ball is not going to be caught, takes off running, and touches and rounds 2nd base.

After the ball is caught the runner from 1st base heads back to 1st, but does not retouch 2nd base on his/her way back.

The defense appeals the play at 2nd base, and the appeal is granted.

Question:

Does the run count from 3rd base?

The Answer is Yes

Reader Cliff Munson posted the best answer on facebook, “yep the run counts because after the catch it is only 2 outs and it becomes a timing play. As long as the runner crosses home plate before the ball is thrown back to first then put one up on the scoreboard.”