Gotta Know the Rules

It's a game now

So you think you've got it figured out
It don't come easy, maybe just for fools
Some say life is a struggle now, it's a game now
Just gotta know the rules
Gotta know the rules

Social Distortion’s super grungy 1996 single “Gotta Know the Rules” isn’t a deep thinker. It’s a straight-forward rocker about learning the absolutes to survive in a world that isn’t fair, doesn’t care and is out to get you. So, it isn’t exactly about baseball or softball…but it could be.

And just a few weeks into the spring season, it seems that the rules - the rules that have governed these games (with some variation) for over a hundred years - are on everyone’s mind. And boy do they seem to be a struggle.

Here’s just a sample of what I’ve been asked just in the last week:

1 - “Hey, you’re the rules guy, did we get that one right?” - an umpire after doing my daughter’s high school game, asking about placement of runners after an interference call.

2 - “What’s the rule there blue, does that run count?” - a coach after a wild 10u play that resulted in a force out at second after a literal comedy of errors, while the runner on third came home.

3 - “What’s the defensive conference rule in this league?” - my partner in a 13u baseball game after a coach came out for the second conference in an inning.

4 - “So, on that interference - that’s a dead ball, so the out at first doesn’t count?” - a parent who also umps asking about a 12u play (politely and in between innings).

5 - “Wait! Why is she out?!?!” - a 12u coach after her player was hit by a pitch in the hands while swinging at a pitch with two strikes.

6 - “Shouldn’t that be a two base award like the last one?” - a parent to me in the bleachers watching our daughters’ high school game asking about a throw out of play.

7 - “Kev - what’s the run rule after five innings?” - text from a desperate dad watching a terribly one-sided high school game.

8 - “What was the illegal pitch call for?” a 12u parent, asking (politely and in between innings), why I called an illegal pitch.

9 - “Wait! Well, why is she out NOW?!” - same 12u coach, unaware of when a runner is allowed to leave the base.

The basics of umpiring are pretty simple. Strike / ball, fair / foul, safe / out. Those are 95% of adjudicating the game. Everyone knows those rules. But that 5% - it don’t come easy.

Fortunately for me, all of those interactions above were calm, non confrontational, and easily explained. I am fortunate to have a reputation for having a detailed grasp of the rules (particularly those 5% the general public can struggle with). I watch a LOT of softball and baseball on TV. If I see something strange, or a play triggers a “what would that have been if x happened”, I will go straight to my pile of rule books (I like the physical books better than the online ones) to figure out what the right call would be in each of the sanctions I cover. Having an absolute command of the rules is essential for making sure the game is fair, and everything runs smoothly.

Especially at the youth levels of baseball and softball, umpires are educators as much as we are arbiters. It’s the youth games where the strangest things happen - the players don’t always do what they’re supposed to do, the fields have weird features, the leagues have house rules, and anything that can happen, usually does. So anytime we get to knowledgeably explain our ruling to a coach, player, parent or partner, we’re helping make the next game better and more enjoyable.

******

While we’re on the subject of rules - there has been a video circulating online of a high school softball game in Louisiana that has caused a lot of controversy.

In the video, with a runner on third, the pitcher delivers a ball to the batter, who subsequently takes several steps backwards out of the batter’s box. With the runner not even a step off of third base, the catcher proceeds to deliver a full force throw into the batter’s helmet in an attempt to draw a “batter’s interference” call. In fact, the umpire in this case did call batter’s interference, declaring the batter out, despite the fact that there was no play to be made on the runner, and the throw was not remotely in the direction of third base (but was clearly intended to hit the batter).

The video, of course, drew a lot of comments both defending and maligning the play and the call. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has made a statement about it that I was grateful for, in full condemnation of the play, and an edict that any future plays where a catcher deliberatly targets a batter in an effort to draw an interference call shall result in the player’s ejection.

The game is meant to be played by the rules, and when coaches and players deliberately attempt to manipulate them, or when umpires fail to enforce correct interpretations, bad things happen.

For all the umpires out there - please get in the rule book. Ask fellow umpires the questions you have. There are a bunch of online resources, Facebook groups, forums, and fellow umpires in your association, where you can ask about what you might have gotten wrong so you can get it right the next time.

Because, it’s a game now, and you just gotta know the rules.

*****

1 - They did, in fact get it right. The runner from 2nd who interfered was out, the runner on third was returned to third, and the batter runner was awarded first base

2 - Nope, the run did not count, as the runner from first was forced out at second base. It took, at least five throws and a rundown for some reason, but he was eventually out.

3 - In NFHS rules, which this league uses, a coach may have 3 defensive conferences in 7 innings before having to remove a pitcher, with no restriction on how many conferences occur in the same inning

4 - Correct. This guy was so nice, and really wanted to learn.

5 - A pitch that hits the batter is dead, and if the batter swings, it’s a dead ball strike, and if strike 3, the batter is out.

6 - In this case, it was a ground ball to the second baseman, who overthrew first, awarding the batter runner 2nd base (which actually is a two base award).

7 - 12 runs after 5 innings, Jer, sorry.

8 - In this case the pitcher’s lead foot was well outside the pitcher’s lane (the 24 inch lane within the width of the pitcher’s plate (rubber).

9 - In softball the runner cannot leave the base before the pitcher releases the pitch.