gov135

... what do you do?
Below are several not-so-common baseball scenarios. You give the correct ruling.

NOTE: This is just for fun. If you get them all wrong this doesn't mean you know one more or less thing than anyone else. As you'll see, these are somewhat arcane.

Updated with answers - see below

I'll post the answers in a few days.

1. A baserunner on first steals second successfully, but in getting to his feet, he lifts his foot from the bag - for just a second. The shortstop quickly tags him. You are the umpire. What's you're call?
The umpire should call the runner out, though the play is likely to cause some arguements

2. You are the official scorer. A runner is on first with two outs. The batter hits a hard ground ball to right. After taking off at the sound of the bat, the runner on first rounds second and heads toward third. The right fielder gets to the ball, and throws it to third. The throw is "right on the money", but it hits the sliding runner and bounces down the left field line! The runner gets up and proceeds home. How do you score the play?
The score is a hard-luck error on the right fielder. But if he wasn't assessed an error, the pitcher would be charged with an earned run.

3. Curt Schilling is pitching, and Victor Martinez is the baserunner on third. Schilling is standing on the rubber, getting his sign from the catcher, when Martinez prematurely breaks to the plate. Schilling, who had not yet started his windup, breaks directly to Martinez and tags him before he reaches the plate. You are the umpire. Is the runner out?
When the pitcher leaves the mound without backing off the rubber, it is a balk. The runner is awarded home plate.

4. You are the umpire. Yes, this actually happened in 1987. You are the home plate umpire. A sinkerball pitcher is on the mound, with runners on first and second. The pitch is delivered, and the ball is in the dirt - the ball bounces once, and ends up in the ball bag atached to your hip! The catcher and pitcher have no idea where the ball is. What do you do? What is your call?
If a ball lodges in a catcher's equipment or umpire's equipment it is ruled a dead ball. Please note the runners are awarded a base.

5. You are the umpire. A pitcher on the mound, known for being a quick worker, is working against a batter that takes his sweet time in the batter's box getting ready to hit. The batter stretches his bat, digs in his feet, and is just looking up when a pitch comes hurling across the plate! What is your call?
Rule 2.00, 8.01d. sates the batter should be allowed a reasonable time to assume his stance. The umpire should hold up his hand, signaling to the pitcher not to deliver. If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch with runners on base, it is to be called a ball. If there are no runners on base, the illegal pitch is a balk.

6. You are the umpire. There is a runner on first, with one out. The batter hits an easy line drive right at the third baseman, who proceeds to drop the ball. The third baseman picks it up, fires it to the second baseman, who pivots and throws to the first baseman for the inning ending double-play. What, if anything, is your call?
The rules protect the baserunner in this situation - Rule 6.05. The batter is out, the ball is dead, and the runners may not advance.

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