gov135

... make the correct call. I'll post the answers in a few days.

NOTE: These are difficult situations that are not seen very often in baseball. So pick to have fun - noone is being graded, honest.

Wow. I was impressed with the answers.

1. There are no outs, baserunner on third. You are the umpire. Barry Zito is the A's pitcher, and Ichiro Suzuki is the Mariner's baserunner. Zito is standing on the rubber, and has not yet started his windup when Suzuki breaks prematurely towards home plate. Zito breaks directly towards Suzuki and tags him before he reaches home. Your call?
When a pitcher leaves the mound without backing off the rubber, it is a balk. Suzuki gets the base, and scores.

2. There is one out, bases empty. You are the umpire. The batter, the speedy Coco Crisp, hits a sure double-possible triple to left field. The left fielder, Carlos Beltran, gets to the ball as Crisp rounds second and heads for third. Beltran's throw towards third base is "right on the money" as Crisp slides in.... and the ball hits Crisp and bounces down the left field line, allowing a grateful Crisp to score. Beltran made a great throw, does he receive an error on the play?
Yes. Beltran is assessed with a hard-luck error, because if not, the pitcher would be charged with an earned run, which would be inaccurate.

3. There are no outs, bases empty. Rocco Baldelli of the Devil Rays is at the plate. He hits a slow grounder towards third, and races towards first base. The third baseman charges the ball, and fires a strike to first on a close play. The firstbase umpire calls Baldelli out. But Baldelli and Lou Pinella, manager, protest that the play was so close, the tie goes to the runner. Who is correct, the Devil Rays or the umpire?
The umpire is correct. In the MLB rulebook, there is no "tie goes to the runner rule." The runner either beats the throw or he doesn't.

4. There is one out, with a runner on third. The batter hits a grounder down the third base line, in fair territory. The baserunner retreats to third base, in front of the third baseman, where he is hit by the ball. Your call?
The base does not protect the runner when he is hit by a batted ball in front of the infielder. He is out.

5. There are two outs, bases are loaded. You are the umpire. The batter swats a triple, and all baserunners score. However, the runner on third failed to touch home plate. After the runners from first and second score, the runner from third retouches the plate. The catcher then calls for the ball and an appeal. What's your call?
The runner cannot return to touch a base after succeeding runners have touched it. In this case, he represents the third out, so no runs score.

BONUS: Two questions. Can a player who is on the disabled list sit on his team's bench during an official game, and if so, can he be removed from the bench during the game?
Yes and Yes. However, the opposing manager must grant permission for the DL'd player to be on the bench, and, in order for that player to be removed, the same manager must request it.

This bizarre combination of compliances occured some years ago in the National League. Frank Lucchesi, manager of the Phillies at the time, made the request of Gene Mauch, manager of the Expos. Lucchesi wanted Dick Selma, an injured Phillies pitcher, to stay on his bench. Mauch gave his consent.

But Selma didn't like Mauch, so he loudly criticized Gene's every move during the game, so that Mauch could hear. In the sixth inning, Mauch had enough. He came out of his dugout and said to the umpire, "Selma has to go. I can't take him anymore."

Exit Selma. Rule 3.06

14, 15, 41, 59, 82, 36