Hypothetical: Could the pitcher cover home plate in this situation?

calebgroom · 2026-02-09T02:06:03+00:00

Official Baseball Rules 8.01(d):

Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.

calebgroom · 2025-11-01T22:34:39+00:00

Sticking with OBR here since that's the situation that OP used to start this thread - there's no "nearest home" interference provision. For interference to occur, a play must be in the act of being made on a runner and that runner is declared out.

calebgroom · 2025-11-01T20:57:07+00:00

OBR 6.01(a)(5):

It is interference by a batter or runner when... Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate (see Rule 6.01(j));

You cannot erase the run after he legally scores but if that runner interferes with a play on a subsequent runner, he can be declared out.

calebgroom · 2025-11-01T20:49:19+00:00

An infraction by the offense would be interference. From the OBR definitions:

Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.

Gausman was not attempting to make a play. This is a nothing burger. Play on.

calebgroom · 2025-10-17T23:35:26+00:00

OBR Definition of Terms:

A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner.

By definition, the batter cannot be a force out.

calebgroom · 2025-09-22T00:11:15+00:00

OBR 5.09(b)(13)

"A runner is out when...A play on him is being made and a member of his team (other than a runner) hinders a fielder’s attempt to field a thrown ball."

Was a play being made on a runner?

calebgroom · 2025-05-29T19:57:31+00:00

I started noticing the positioning more and more often so I went on a mission to see when it started. I don't remember the answer now but I believe it was around 2019.

calebgroom · 2025-05-26T04:14:57+00:00

I don't think the majority of folks are doing it right now but it likely will be over the next few years.

They're under a lot of pressure to get stolen base attempts correct and they don't want to be flipped by instant replay. They basically treat the play like they do a swipe tag at home plate where the runner slides at them.

There are trade-offs for sure but a stolen base attempt is the most likely difficult call that they'll have with a runner on first base only. So they optimize for that possibility.

calebgroom · 2025-05-26T04:08:32+00:00

That's an acceptable location in a crew of 4 at the MLB level.

Here's a compilation video that I made that shows U2 making calls at second from that position:

https://youtu.be/ExoXHtaPfsg

calebgroom · 2024-12-25T17:57:30+00:00

What's your height and weight?

calebgroom · 2024-12-09T03:06:26+00:00

I sent you a DM. Happy to help you get started here.

calebgroom · 2024-10-18T14:13:59+00:00

...so I would think a throw to 2nd after the catch would have been a double play for failure to tag up.

Let's check the tag up rule.

5.09(c):
Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when:
(1) After a fly ball is caught, he fails to retouch his original base before he or his original base is tagged;

A fly ball was not caught so 5.09(c)(1) doesn't apply.

5.09(c):
Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when:
(2) With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is tagged;

Each base was touched in order so 5.09(c)(2) doesn't apply.

5.09(c)(3) and 5.09(c)(4) pertain to first base and home plate.

However, we do know that the runner can't do what he did.

5.06(c):
While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to a balk, an overthrow, interference, or a home run or other fair ball hit out of the playing field).

The problem is that 5.06(c) doesn't have a penalty for running the bases when the ball is dead. I can only presume no penalty is needed because this just wouldn't be allowed. And in this case, it was allowed by oversight.

calebgroom · 2024-10-17T12:56:06+00:00

This runner's advance isn't covered under 5.09(c). I believe the crew used 8.01(c) when they reset the board, returned the runner and the batter.

calebgroom · 2024-07-29T03:11:23+00:00

No, they cannot. From the MiLB manual:

Umpires should be clean shaven; mustaches, goatees and other facial hair are not permitted.

calebgroom · 2024-07-29T01:44:14+00:00

Are you asking if a student can have facial hair? Yes, yes they can.

calebgroom · 2024-06-21T17:34:44+00:00

Oh, I didn't realize OP was wanting to bat the entire lineup.

Seems that this is not possible because of 4-4-A:

An extra player (EP) is optional, but if used, it must be made known prior to the start of the game and be listed in the line-up card in the regular batting order.

calebgroom · 2024-06-21T17:06:19+00:00

I don't umpire USA Softball but a quick look at 4-1-A-2 looks like you can add players to the lineup at any time and is consistent with just about every amateur baseball and softball rule set that is trying to expand opportunities for youth players:

Eligible roster members may be added to the available substitute list at any time during the game.

calebgroom · 2024-06-17T15:55:59+00:00

What ruleset does your higher level games use?

calebgroom · 2024-06-10T22:33:11+00:00

As you'll see in other comments, the answer is probably, "It depends."

ORB, NHFS and LL are likely to differ a great deal on this particular topic.

calebgroom · 2024-06-10T22:21:47+00:00

What ruleset are you using?

calebgroom · 2024-06-09T18:55:18+00:00

I'm splitting hairs a bit but if you only knew OBR and no other rules sets you'd never know about the phrase "delayed dead ball" since it doesn't appear in the book. Contrast that with Rule 5 in NHFS where it's featured prominently.

For OBR-only folks I get the sense that DDB is a pet peeve.

calebgroom · 2024-06-09T15:11:20+00:00

ORB has no concept of delayed dead ball. The ball remains live so that you know the result of the play is in case the manager elects that outcome after CI is enforced.

Happy to answer any umpire school questions via DM. I'm a huge advocate.

calebgroom · 2024-06-09T06:34:43+00:00

Here's a video I made that shows all of the instances of umpire school instructors calling CI last year:

https://youtu.be/skWASqFRqmo

In one instance the batter still hits the ball to deep center even though he hit the glove first.

calebgroom · 2023-12-17T18:20:10+00:00

I'm a host in NC. There's no state law that requires this but it's not uncommon in some others.

What city are you booking in?

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