Unusual plays

[Rice4HOF]

So the helmet is not part of the body, but the glove and cleats are?

Rulebook wording “if in contact with its intended place on the person” or something like that. If you dive head first and your helmet is the only thing on the base, that’s fine.

 

[Rice4HOF]

So, that play is subject to a very heavy debate by umpires, as I understand it. The debate is over whether or not to alert the manager that he has a choice. Somewhere in some officials forums or internet thing, there was a very active debate, with the prevailing view being that because of the language of the rule or comment, it is up to the manager to know the rule. So the umpire enforces the catchers' interference and then needs to wait to see what the manager wants to do. Others take the view that in situations where the manager may prefer to decline. The MLB comment gives two examples -- sac fly and sac bunt.

Do you know how the ump handled in the reds pads game?

As an umpire you are not to alert the manager (like in football where you’re asked if you want to accept or decline the penalty), but if the manager comes outs and says pretty much anything (e.g. “do we have to lose that run?”), then we help him with the rule and let him know he has a choice. In other words, the manager does not need to explicitly tell us “hey I want to use the option of declining the interference and taking the result of the play”, but we also don’t call time and say “hey, coach, do you want to take the penalty or not.”

 

[SumnerH]

Rulebook wording “if in contact with its intended place on the person” or something like that. If you dive head first and your helmet is the only thing on the base, that’s fine.

Yeah. From Definitions of Terms:

TOUCH. To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of his body, or any uniform or equipment worn by him (but not any jewelry (e.g., necklaces, bracelets, etc.) worn by a player).​

​

(Touch) Comment: Equipment shall be considered worn by a player or umpire if it is in contact with its intended place on his person.​

 

[pedro1918]

I have a friend who is the head coach of a DC High School baseball team. His team was in second place in the conference and needed the last place team to beat the first place team to win the conference.

Good news: The last place team used three different pitchers to no-hit the first place team.

The bad news: Those pitchers walked 19 batters.

Add in a few errors and the first place team won 7-0.

7IP, 0 Hits allowed, 19 BB allowed, 7 Runs allowed.

 

[BroodsSexton]

Rulebook wording “if in contact with its intended place on the person” or something like that. If you dive head first and your helmet is the only thing on the base, that’s fine.

I laughed picturing the guy diving in head first with his hands by his side, and helmet touching the bag.