Rules Quiz #1
Lets see how much you really
know about the rules of baseball?
One out, runners at 2nd and 3rd. Batter hits a grounder to the 3rd
baseman, who gets R3 in a rundown between home and 3rd. R3 eludes
a tag and returns to 3rd safely. Meanwhile, R2 is standing on 3rd also.
Both are tagged. Who is out?
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a) R3
b) R2
c) Both runners
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Answer
B) R2, see MLB rule
7.03
One out, runner on 1st. Batter hits a quick onehopper to the 1st baseman. R1 returns to 1st and is
tagged while on the base. The 1st baseman then
steps on 1st. Who is out?
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a) only R1
b) only the BR
c) both R1 and BR
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Answer
c) both R1 and BR
see MLB rule 7.01
Substitutions may be made while the ball is alive?
True or False
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Answer
False see MLB rule 3.03
Only when the ball is dead or between
innings.
No outs, bases loaded. The 1st baseman catches a
foul ball and falls into the stands or dugout. Place
R1, R2 and R3
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A) leave them at their
current base
B) all runners
advance one base
C) all runners
advance two bases
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Answer
B) all runners
advance one base,
see MLB rule 7.04
No outs, runner on 1st. R1 is stealing 2nd when the batter
bunts the ball to the 3rd baseman. R1 is past 2nd when the 3rd
baseman’s throw to 1st goes into the stands. Place R1 and
the BR.
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A) batter gets 1st and R1
gets 3rd
B) batter gets 2nd and R1
gets 3rd
C Batter gets 2nd and R1
gets home
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Answer
B) batter gets 2nd and R1
gets 3rd. See MLB rule
7.05(g) approved ruling
Note position of the
runners at the time of the
throw; since R1 was past
2nd the BR needed to be
past 1st for R1 to score,
then the BR would be
awarded 3rd.
One out, runner on 1st, who is attempting to steal 2nd. The
catcher interferes with the batter, who strikes out, and then
throws out R1 at 2nd. What penalties do you impose?
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A) batter is awarded
1st and R1 is awarded
2nd
B) batter is out and
R1 is out at 2nd
C) Batter is awarded
1st and R1 is out at
2nd
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Answer
A) batter is awarded
1st and R1 is awarded
2nd. See MLB Rule
6.08(c) and 7.04(b)
Two out, bases loaded, 3-2 count. With all runners going on the pitch,
the batter takes ball four. R2 touches and rounds 3rd and is picked off
by the catcher before the runner from 3rd touches the plate. Does the
run score?
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Answer
Yes see MLB rule 7.04(b) note the play.
The run scores because ALL runners are
forced to advance one base because of
the walk.
The pitcher balks attempting to pick-off R1 and throws the ball wild.
R1 advances to 3rd, but missed 2nd on the way. The defense throws to
2nd and appeals to you. Is the runner out?
Yes or No
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Answer
Yes see MLB rule 5.09(c), 7.04(note),
8.05
The runner is still obligated to touch all
bases and can be called out on an appeal
before the next play.
No outs, runner on 2nd, the 3-2 pitch is called ball four and gets by the
catcher and rolls toward the 1st base dugout. As the catcher attempts
to retrieve the ball, he inadvertently knocks the ball into the dugout.
Place R2 and the batter.
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A) batter gets 1st and
R2 gets home
B) batter gets 2nd and
R2 gets 3rd
C) batter gets 2nd and
R2 gets home
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Answer
C) batter gets 2nd and
R2 gets home see
MLB rule 7.05(g) and
7.05(h) approved
ruling 2 bases at
time of the pitch
Runner at 1st, batter takes the pitch. The catcher’s throw back to the
pitcher hits the still cocked bat of the batter. The ball bounces into the
dugout and R goes to 3rd. Can he stay there? Yes or No
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Answer
Yes
MLB Rule 7.05(g) 2 bases when thrown ball
goes into stands or dugout or out of field of
play. In this play, the ball is a live ball until it
goes out of the field of play. There is no
interference by the batter, not because he was in
the batters box, but because there was no
movement by the batter.
Does a glove thrown at a fair batted ball have to
touch the ball before you award bases? Yes or no
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Answer
Yes
see MLB rule 7.05(c), there is no
penalty if the glove does not hit the batted
ball, and the play is to continue.
Remember the number of bases awarded
are different on thrown ball hit by the
detached equipment.
One out, runner on 3rd. The batter hits a ground ball to the
3rd baseman who gets R3 in a rundown. During the
rundown, the catcher is taking off his mask as the ball is
being thrown to him. He stops the ball with his mask, picks
it up and tags R3. The batter is not yet at 1st base when
this occurs. Place R3 and the batter.
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A) batter gets 1st and
R3 is out
B) batter gets 2nd and
R3 gets home
C) batter gets 1st and
R3 returns to 3rd
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Answer
B) batter gets 2nd and
R3 gets home see
MLB rule 7.05(d)
Note, the detached
equipment stopped a
thrown ball
Batter hits a grounder to short. The shortstop throws high
and the 1st baseman throws his glove and hits the ball.
Place the BR.
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A) first
B) second
C) third
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Answer
B) second see MLB
rule 7.05(e)
Note the position of
the runner at the time
the detached
equipment hit the
THROWN ball, then
award two bases
Two outs, runner on 1st. Grounder to the
shortstop who throws the ball into the dugout
trying to retire the batter. R1 is not at 2nd at the
time of the throw. Place R1 and the batter.
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A) batter gets 1st the R1
gets 2nd.
B) batter gets 2nd and R1
gets 3rd
C) batter gets 1st and R1
gets 3rd
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Answer
B) batter gets 2nd and R1 gets
3rd see MLB rule 7.05(g)
Note, the award of two bases,
both runners had not
advanced one base and that
this is the first play of and
infielder, therefore the runners
are judged by their position at
the time of the pitch.
One out, bases loaded. Grounder to the 3rd baseman who
steps on 3rd and then throws the ball into the stands trying
to retire the BR. R1 had reached 2nd before the throw but
R3 and the BR had not reached their next base before the
throw. Place R1, R3 and BR
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A) batter gets 2nd, R1 and
R3 get home
B) batter gets 1st, R1 gets
2nd and R3 gets home
C) batter gets 1st, R1 gets
3rd and R3 gets home
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Answer
A) batter gets 2nd, R1 and
BR get home see MLB
rule 7.05(g)
Note the position or R2 at
the time of the throw, he
was past 2nd is why he is
awarded home
On outs, runner on 2nd. Grounder to short who does not
field the ball cleanly. The shortstop throws the ball into the
dugout when attempting to pick the BR off 1st after he had
made a wide turn. R2 was past 3rd at the time of the
throw. Place the runners.
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A) batter gets 2nd and
R2 gets home
B) batter gets 3rd and
R2 gets home
C) batter gets 2nd and
R2 gets 3rd
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Answer
B) batter gets 3rd and
R2 gets home
Even though this was
the first play by an
infielder, both R2 and
BR had advanced one
base before the throw
Batter hits a single to right. The fielder throws to first
attempting to retire the batter after he makes a wide turn
at 1st. The throw goes into the dugout. At the moment
the ball went out-of-play the batter had already turned at
2nd. Place the runner.
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A) second
B) third
C) home
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Answer
b) third see MLB rule
7.05(g)
In this play the award of
two bases is base on the
time of the throw and
not when the ball actually
went out-of-play. Also
note that this was an
outfielder, not an infielder