Saturday, February 20, 2016

Dead or Alive



Here's another summary of baseball rules for your education or enjoyment. It summarizes when umpires should call an immediate or delayed dead ball. A delayed dead ball is a live ball until all action has ended, then "Time" is called.

Remains a Live Ball

  • Batted ball strikes a runner or umpire after passing infielders (nullifies "in flight")
  • Runner passes previous runner
  • Runner out of base path to avoid tag
  • Ball strikes a coach in foul territory or a pitch strikes a plate umpire
  • Fielder, after a catch, completely enters dugout or dead ball territory but does not fall
         (except NFHS = immediate dead ball)

Immediate Dead Ball

  • Batter hit by pitch [including ball or strike call]
  • Pitch lodges in catcher's or umpire's equipment
  • Pitch hits a runner trying to score
  • Foul ball
  • Illegally batted ball [with illegal bat, or with batter's foot on plate or outside box]
  • Batter's backswing hits catcher
  • Ball enters dead ball territory
  • Catch and carry [fielder falls into dead ball territory after a catch]
  • Type 1 Obstruction [play being made on runner]      (except NFHS = delayed dead ball)
    (includes obstruction of BR before reaching 1B on infield grounder)
  • Interference by runner or umpire with batted ball before passing infielders
  • Interference by runner with fielder making a play
  • Spectator interference
  • Coach interferes with live ball [either intentionally or in fair territory]
  • Coach interferes with fielder making a play

Delayed Dead Ball

  • Balk      (except NFHS = immediate dead ball)
  • Runner leaves base early [Little League 60' divisions only]
  • Type 2 Obstruction [no play being made on runner]
  • Fielder intentionally touches batted or thrown ball with detached or illegal equipment
  • Catcher's Interference/Obstruction
  • Batter's Interference with catcher's throw or play
  • Umpire's Interference with catcher's throw
  • Coach physically assists a runner