Here are a bunch of random notes from the recently completed, week long, Little League Western Region Umpire School.
There were 10 different presenters covering these topics, but the Western Region Umpire Coordinators, Mike Wright and Sam Palmer, were right there listening to every word and made corrections or clarifications as necessary. So for all intents and purposes, I believe these notes correctly reflect the current official interpretations for Little League baseball.
<I've inserted some comments/references in Bob's text, added references to rule numbers and in general tried to organize his notes into a less random fashion. Where I've added comments, I've enclosed then in brackets. So these errors are mine alone! :-)
I've also double-entered items that seemed to refer to two sections of the rules.
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The 3-foot line along the last half of the distance from home to first base should, indeed, be marked on Major/Minor fields even though it is not shown in the field diagram in the rule book.
Even though there is no "on deck" position in LL Major and under play, there is still an "on deck batter". That batter should sit or stretch inside the dugout, and MUST wear a helmet while doing so. ONLY the current batter may be holding a bat. During the changeover between half-innings, only the lead-off batter may be out of the dugout with a bat. That lead-off batter may take practice swings while the pitcher is warming up, but must do so in a manner and location considered safe by the umpires.
No casts are allowed, even in the base coacher's boxes.
The glove dimensions listed in the 1998 Junior/Senior/Big League book Rule 1.14 are a typo. The glove should be no longer than 12 inches and no wider (across the palm) than 7 3/4 inches. The 1999 book is still in press so I'm not sure whether last year's typo has been corrected.
Rule 2.00 has a definition of Ineligible Player which would appear to rather strictly limit the application of the protest rule, rule 4.19. Despite the wording in that definition, the official LL interpretation of 4.19 is that teams MAY file a game protest any time before the last out of the game occurs for players playing in violation of age, residence, participation on the proper team, the pitching limitations (Regulation VI), and ALSO for players playing in violation of the re-entry substitution rule (Rule 3.03). Note that opposing managers are expected to NOT try to trap their opposition. If the umpire believes that the protesting manager deliberately delayed notifying the umpires so that the situation could not be prevented from developing into a protest, then the umpires should so note in their report and the League should discipline that manager.
If the umpires fail to call an Infield Fly when one should have been called they must not, after the play, attempt to correct their mistake. The play must stand regardless of whether the defense made 0, 1, 2, or 3 outs on the play. Failure to call the Infield Fly is simply faulty judgment and is not protestable.
On the other hand, if the umpires CALL an Infield Fly when the rules do not permit it, they should, after the play, nullify the out against BR and award him 1B if necessary (possibly forcing other runners to advance). Declaring the out when the situation does not permit an Infield Fly is an erroneous application of the rules, and must be corrected or it can be protested.
<I read this that the BR should be awarded 1st if the ball is dropped. But if the ball is caught, it would not be "necessary" to award him 1B.>
[BOB'S NOTE: My understanding is that PRO umpires are taught to nullify any 2nd or 3rd out directly resulting from their failure to call an Infield Fly, but if 0 or 1 out is made on the play then the play stands. As in LL, calling an Infield Fly when the rules do not permit it must be corrected.]
Upper divisions. Squeeze play, righty B1 squares around to bunt only to discover that the pitch is headed towards the lefty batter's box out of his reach. B1 tosses the bat at the pitch. The bat hits the pitch somewhere over the lefty batter's box and the ball is knocked towards the dugout. Ruling: The tossed bat is a legal offer at the ball in LL. On this play you would have a foul ball. If the bat had missed the pitch you would have a strike. If the bat was tossed in an unsafe manner (such as AT the catcher) you would have batter's interference AND a "Safety Violation". [NOTE: Mike Wright says such a toss of the bat at the pitch is illegal in pro play. Presumably it is treated as batter's interference. I've not seen any definitive statement on this for pro play from any other source. Also, even though a squeeze play is not likely in Major/Minor play (runners can't lead off), it is apparently still the case that a tossed bat is a legal offer at the pitch.]
The umpires only enforce the rules and regulations limiting when a player may ENTER a game. NOT the rules and regulations REQUIRING him to enter, or those limiting when he may LEAVE the game. The umpires must not get involved in enforcing or detecting violations of the minimum play requirements in regular season. (There is one exception. The umpires MUST ask whether any players need to start and play extra outs or at bats due to the failure of the team to play them enough in the prior game. The umpires must enforce that these players do, indeed, start, and are not taken out of the game for substitutes prior to completing their entire play requirement of one at bat plus six outs for this game plus any at bats or outs missed from previous games.)
Other than this one exception, the umpires are to keep hands off the minimum play Regulations. The Leagues, themselves, are responsible for enforcing these regulations and the Leagues are responsible for ensuring that there is an impartial Official Scorer at each League game who can handle the necessary record keeping and reporting.
For example, the umpires MUST allow a manager to make a substitution for a prior substitute, even though that prior substitute has not yet completed the minimum play requirement stated in the Regulations. This is true even knowing that, as a substitute, he is not allowed to later reenter the game and, thus, will NEVER be able to get in his minimum play! However, if the manager does this, he has also ended the day for the original starter in that position. That is, if Johnny starts and is replaced by Timmy in the third inning, and then the manager wants to bring in Richard for Timmy in the 4th inning, the umpires must allow the entry of Richard even though the manager will be held at fault for not playing Timmy long enough, but they must also note that Johnny, then, can NEVER reenter the game (because Johnny doesn't have reentry rights unless Timmy fulfills his minimum play)! The Scorer and the League office are responsible for disciplining the managers whenever players do not receive their minimum play. Failure to fulfill the minimum play requirements (in regular season play) is not protestable.
<By this interpretation, umpires do NOT keep Richard from entering the game for Timmy, as this is a mangers error. But we DO keep Johnny from going back in unless Timmy has completed his 6 outs and 1 at bat.
Richard and Johnny are starters. Timmy and Mikey are subs. Richard comes out for Mikey. Next inning, Johnny comes out for Timmy. We would allow Richard to come in for Timmy as long as Mikey had fulfilled his 6 and 1 (meaning Richard can legally reenter), even though Timmy had not. But now, since Timmy will never fulfill HIS 6 and 1, Johnny can never reenter.>
When Batting Out Of Turn is properly appealed, the player declared Out for failing to bat in his proper spot HAS completed an at bat for the purposes of the minimum play and substitution rules. However, the improper batter who incorrectly batted in his place has NOT completed an at bat even if that player hit the ball and advanced on the play. If an improper batter is legalized by a subsequent pitch, play or attempted play, then that legalized (formerly improper) batter HAS completed an at bat and the player who SHOULD have batted has NOT completed an at bat. Note that these interpretations may affect when starters can reenter the game!
Think of rule 3.05 as an "entry" limitation rule for the proposed new pitcher when the current pitcher hasn't completed pitching to one spot in the batting order. Think of Regulation VI as an entry limitation saying that the pitcher who has run out of innings can not take the mound this inning. Both are, of course, enforced by the umpires and failure to enforce them is grounds for protest. But the Regulation IV(i) minimum play stuff is NOT protestable.
The maximum number of pitchers that can be used by each team in any regular season game is 6! They are allowed 5 pitchers, but if the 5th pitcher leaves the game due to illness or injury then a 6th pitcher may be used. However, if that 6th pitcher leaves the game for any reason then the game is forfeit.
The teams should not be allowed to have a spectator keep their scorebooks behind the fence. The purpose of adding a second coach to the adult participation in the team was to make sure that a coach would be available to maintain the team scorebook in the dugout if a kid couldn't do it. Use Rule 3.09 as your authority on this (team members may not communicate with spectators through the fence during the game).
Catcher out of box during intentional walk pitch -- is now an "Illegal Pitch" in Major/Minor play. Since the penalty for an Illegal Pitch is just a ball anyway, this would appear to be kind of silly, but the rule actually has consequence since any Illegal Pitch delivered to the plate and not batted kills play.
LL recommends that base coachers or adults NOT retrieve bats. A player from the dugout should come out, wearing a helmet, to retrieve the bat as necessary. This means that if the team uses two players as base-coachers, they may need 8, not 7, legal helmets.
Problem coachers should be sent to the dugout, but usually not ejected. Ejected players may be left in the dugout unless the umpires are sure that there is proper adult supervision for them if they leave the field. If the ejected players still in the dugout continue to interfere with the game, the umpires may have to send an adult coach off with them so that the game can continue.
If all adults on a team are ejected, do NOT appoint a kid as acting manager. Get a League officer or known adult from the stands to act as temporary manager. Failing that, suspend the game and let the League office figure out what they want to do next.
Games stopped due to curfew are Suspended. Leagues that play under lights MUST adopt a policy for games stopped due to failure of the mechanical lights. It is recommended that such games be suspended regardless of the score or number of innings played.
The LEAGUE determines when Suspended games shall be resumed, not the managers or umpires. Leagues should be careful to avoid abuse of pitchers. If, and only if, the game is resumed on the next day, the pitcher of record may continue to pitch in the resumed game up to his innings limit for the week. If the pitcher pitches 6 innings on Saturday before the game is suspended, and if the game is resumed the next day, Sunday, then that same pitcher COULD legally pitch 6 more innings should the game go that long! This means you could have a kid pitching 12 innings in a 48 hour period! The Leagues should be careful to avoid such problems when scheduling the resumption of play.
When a game is suspended and resumed on a later date, any players now in the dugout who were NOT present on the earlier day are allowed to play in the continuation of the game. What's more, THEY MUST PLAY! The League (NOT the umpires) must hold the manager responsible for seeing that every such kid gets in his full minimum play before the game ends.
The fact that a manager wants to discipline a player is not an excuse for not playing that player in each game. Only the League itself can apply such discipline.
Double headers are allowed in Major play, but ONLY if both games are between the same two teams. The purpose of the rule was to allow for situations where teams have to travel great distances to compete against each other. LL strongly recommends that this rule NOT be used to double the number of regular season games played by each team!
Teams deliberately using a series of Illegal Pitches to make "safe" intentional walks are flirting with forfeit under 4.15(5)
Forfeits declared by the umpires should be recorded in the official scorebook by the UIC and signed by the UIC. Remember that any forfeit declared by the umpires is simply a recommendation to the League board that the game be forfeit. The League board makes the final judgment and may decide the game needs to be resumed. Thus the UIC must also note the game status just as he would if the game were suspended.
Rule 2.00 has a definition of Ineligible Player which would appear to rather strictly limit the application of the protest rule, rule 4.19. Despite the wording in that definition, the official LL interpretation of 4.19 is that teams MAY file a game protest any time before the last out of the game occurs for players playing in violation of age, residence, participation on the proper team, the pitching limitations (Regulation VI), and ALSO for players playing in violation of the re-entry substitution rule (Rule 3.03). Note that opposing managers are expected to NOT try to trap their opposition. If the umpire believes that the protesting manager deliberately delayed notifying the umpires so that the situation could not be prevented from developing into a protest, then the umpires should so note in their report and the League should discipline that manager.
Rule 5.10(d) has been clarified to make clear that the limit of one offensive time out per inning only applies to visits or conferences with teammates. The offense may seek any number of time outs for other legitimate reasons such as substitutions or meeting with the umpires.
LL has modified rule 5.10(f) this year to clarify that live play is NEVER allowed from dead ball territory. This has apparently been LL policy for some time, but the rule book has never reflected it until now. A catch followed by an unintentional carry out of play results in a dead ball even if the fielder does not fall -- one base award. Fielders can reach into a dugout to make a catch, but can not step into the dugout and make a catch. LL's interpretation extends this to ANY unintentional carry out of play of a live ball. Kill play and award only ONE base. Intentional carry out of play is still treated like a throw out of play (two base award). Either foot out of play means the fielder is out of play.
If a fielder unintentionally carries a catch out of play, the ball is dead and runners get a one base award. The fielder does NOT have to fall for the ball to be dead. The dugouts are out of play. One foot across the line and on the ground makes the fielder out of play. A fielder can reach into dead ball territory (e.g., a dugout) to make a catch but can not make a catch while standing in dead ball territory with either foot.
If a fielder nabs a live ground ball, a throw, or a loose pitch and unintentionally carries it out of play then the ball is also dead and the award is ALSO only a one base award.
Intentional carry out of play is treated like a throw out of play by that fielder. Dead ball and a TWO base award.
In our District, we encourage new Little League umpires to get themselves a copy of the NAPBL Umpire Manual. It has been our belief that all the rulings found in the NAPBL book can and should be applied to LL games except for cases where there is specific new language in the LL Rule Book -- differing from the base language in OBR -- which directly contradicts the NAPBL interpretation.
So throughout the course of the week, I was listening carefully for any comments which would show that LL has taken a different interpretation.
I'm happy to say, I found only one. To wit: NAPBL section 3.17 notwithstanding, the official interpretation for LL is that the umpire need not delay putting the ball into play until the batter steps into the box. If the pitcher has the ball on the rubber, fielders are properly positioned, and runners have returned as necessary (such as after a foul ball), the umpire may put the ball in play immediately without further waiting for the batter.
<Note that the wording of LL 5.11 and OBR 5.11 are identical.>
There may, of course, be numerous LL interpretations that are at odds with the NAPBL stuff and which simply weren't mentioned at the school. But we covered A LOT of ground in the rules sessions, and my confidence in relying on the myriad rulings found in the NAPBL book when working LL games is stronger than ever.
The batter should be prevented from stepping into the box and hitting or attempting to hit a directed pitch. Each such pitch will be a strike regardless of what the batter does. With runners on base, such actions by the batter may constitute interference.
In Upper Division play, if the directed pitch results in a dropped strike three, the play is kept live but the batter is "declared" out. That is, the batter is not allowed to become a batter-runner.
Managers/coaches do not have the right to leave the dugout simply because the sides are changing between half-innings. They are under the same restrictions as during the inning. They must ask the umpire for permission to come out.
Batter is out when... -- be careful when citing this rule! The lettering for many of the parts has changed since third strike caught and third strike not caught have been combined in the Major/Minor book.
Don't call Illegal Batting if the batter's foot is on the ground outside of the box because he is diving out of the box to evade a wild pitch -- even if that wild pitch hits his bat. But if the batter strides forward as if to swing, and then ducks under the pitch which hits his bat, call Illegal Batting if either foot was on the ground completely out of the box.
When Batting Out Of Turn is properly appealed, the player declared Out for failing to bat in his proper spot HAS completed an at bat for the purposes of the minimum play and substitution rules. However, the improper batter who incorrectly batted in his place has NOT completed an at bat even if that player hit the ball and advanced on the play. If an improper batter is legalized by a subsequent pitch, play or attempted play, then that legalized (formerly improper) batter HAS completed an at bat and the player who SHOULD have batted has NOT completed an at bat. Note that these interpretations may affect when starters can reenter the game!
The proper batter is the batter listed in the lineup following the last "legalized" batter. A batter who has just completed a time at bat is legalized when the next pitch occurs (to a batter of either team) or when the next play or attempted play occurs. NOTE: An Illegal Pitch (or Balk in the upper divisions) is a play. If the situation arises that the proper batter is on base when he should be batting, then he is skipped over, and the next batter in the line-up, not currently on base, becomes the proper batter. HOWEVER: If during that at bat the skipped over batter comes off the bases in any fashion (he scores on an overthrow, or is picked off, or the half inning ends for instance), then that skipped over batter RESUMES his role as the proper batter. EXAMPLE: The batting order is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. If 4 bats and singles and then 3 bats and singles (advancing 4 to 3B) and then 5 enters the box and receives one pitch, 3 is now legalized. 4 should be the proper batter but, since he is on base, 4 is skipped over and 5 becomes the proper batter. Temporarily. If 4 scores on a wild pitch while 5 is still at bat, then 4 RESUMES his role as the proper batter and should immediately replace 5 in the batter's box to continue the at bat. This is true even if the defense has already appealed, say, that 5 is improper and has been informed by the umpire that, no, with 4 still on base, 4 is skipped over and 5, at the time this first appeal is made, is, in fact, the proper batter. As an alternative, if 4 is on 3B and 3 is on 1B and 5 is in the box having received one pitch, and now 3 is picked off
The logic is that the only fixed reference in analyzing Batting Out Of Turn is which player is the last "legalized" batter. In these examples, that is 3. That makes 4 the proper batter. But if 4 is on base, then 5 becomes the proper batter. BUT ONLY AS LONG AS 4 REMAINS ON BASE!
LL recommends that the Public Address announcer should NOT be given a line-up to use during the game. After pre-game introductions, he should just be given a roster with phonetic name pronunciations. This will help insure that the PA guy ONLY announces the batter who physically enters the box as opposed to whoever he might THINK should enter based on the the lineup in front of him. Announcers should only announce subsititutions when directed to do so by the plate umpire.
An appeal of a baserunning infraction under 7.10 is a play except for the purposes of rule 7.10 itself. That means, for instance, that an appeal under 7.10 legalizes the most recent prior batter and loses the defense any chance to get an out for a Batting Out Of Turn (Rule 6.07) which has just occurred! This is true regardless of whether the 7.10 appeal results in an out or not. NOTE: This applies when the 7.10 appeal is made after a distinct break in the action, NOT when during the original continuous action an appeal is made, for instance, that a runner left too early after a catch while the runner is racing back to tag up. A distinct break in the action is any situation where the ball becomes dead or, with a live ball, when all running has stopped and some infielder is holding the ball inside the infield.
On the contrary, an appeal under 6.07 for Batting Out Of Turn is considered a play ONLY if the timing of the appeal is such that the proper batter is declared out for failing to bat. If the out is declared, then the defense loses any rights to subsequently appeal baserunning infractions (7.10) on the play just completed. If the out for 6.07 is NOT declared, then 7.10 appeals are still available. Note that the out for 6.07 might not be declared either because the timing was wrong OR because the proper batter was, in fact, the guy at bat. In either case, 7.10 appeals that were valid before the 6.07 appeal was tried are still valid if no out is declared under 6.07. But, after a distinct break in the action, any failed appeal under 7.10 still legalizes the last batter and cancels any chance of gaining an out under 6.07.
Under LL rules, appeals for baserunning infractions (7.10) can be made at the end of a half-inning until ALL fielders (not just infielders) have left fair ground "on their way to the bench or dugout". The interpretation of this last phrase is that the last fielder in fair ground MAY step into foul ground to nab a loose live ball or to talk to the umpires WITHOUT losing the team's right to make an appeal under 7.10!
The LL interpretation is that a scored runner may not legally return to retouch a missed base (including home plate) AFTER he has ENTERED the dugout. This is true whether the ball is live or dead and is true even if no runner behind him has scored.
In LL, a ball which hits the top of a fence is out of play even if it rebounds into the playing field. If a batted ball in flight hits the top of the fair fence and bounces out of play, it is, thus, a home run. If it bounces back into play, the umpires must judge whether the ball hit the top of the fence or the inside face of the fence just below the top. Fences with curved top pads or other shapes that might make this call difficult should be clearly marked and discussed in the ground rules. Typically, such padding will be painted yellow, and any portion of the ball hitting any portion of the yellow means the ball is out of play just as if it went over the top of the fence. The logic is that the field ends at the vertical plane formed by the inside surface of the fence.
Rule 7.07 only exists in the upper divisions since leading off and stealing are not allowed in Major/Minor play. The LL interpretation of 7.07 is that it is enforced as "catcher's interference" but SCORED as if it was a balk plus B1 advancing to 1B on an error (the catcher's interference). The logic is that the run is scored as occurring on a balk so it is an "earned" run. Note that a balk is "charged" to the pitcher, but a balk is not actually "called". This means that B1 is awarded 1B, stealing runners and forced runners also advance, but non-stealing runners do NOT advance. The only way this could make a difference is if there is just R2 and R3 and the violation occurs while R3 is trying to steal home and R2 is NOT trying to steal. The proper outcome of this play is that B1 gets 1B, R3 scores, and R2 REMAINS AT SECOND BASE!
In judging whether a violation of 7.08(a3) has occurred (runner must slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag), it is important to note that the fielder is only protected AFTER he has the ball and also AFTER he is judged to be "waiting to make the tag". A ball which is caught by the fielder an instant before the runner runs into him has not arrived soon enough for a fielder to be "waiting". A fielder who has the ball to the side of the base line and who now runs or dives across the base line attempting to make the tag is not "waiting". An aid to judging this is to decide whether the runner has had time to react to the fielder's presence with the ball -- whether you can reasonably hold him responsible for failure to slide or attempt to go around or whether the contact happened so soon after the ball arrived that the runner had no time to react to the changed situation. But note that a fielder with the ball in a rundown who is moving towards the runner CAN be considered to be "waiting". Again, the issue is whether the runner could reasonably be expected to have had time to react to the presence of the fielder, with the ball, in the base line, playing on that runner.
When a coach physically assists a runner in violation of 7.09(i), DO NOT KILL PLAY **unless** a play is in progress on the assisted runner. Example 1: 3B coach physically stops runner and pushes him back towards 3B because a throw is being made to 3B. Ruling 1: Kill play, declare that runner out, and return other runners to the base last touched. Example 2: 3B coach physically stops R3 and pushes him back towards 3B to tag up on a fly ball to the outfield. Ruling 2: DO NOT KILL PLAY. However, immediately declare R3 out for the coach's interference. Let play continue to allow the defense a chance to make additional outs such as the out for catching the fly ball.
An appeal of a baserunning infraction under 7.10 is a play except for the purposes of rule 7.10 itself. That means, for instance, that an appeal under 7.10 legalizes the most recent prior batter and loses the defense any chance to get an out for a Batting Out Of Turn (Rule 6.07) which has just occurred! This is true regardless of whether the 7.10 appeal results in an out or not. NOTE: This applies when the 7.10 appeal is made after a distinct break in the action, NOT when during the original continuous action an appeal is made, for instance, that a runner left too early after a catch while the runner is racing back to tag up. A distinct break in the action is any situation where the ball becomes dead or, with a live ball, when all running has stopped and some infielder is holding the ball inside the infield.
On the contrary, an appeal under 6.07 for Batting Out Of Turn is considered a play ONLY if the timing of the appeal is such that the proper batter is declared out for failing to bat. If the out is declared, then the defense loses any rights to subsequently appeal baserunning infractions (7.10) on the play just completed. If the out for 6.07 is NOT declared, then 7.10 appeals are still available. Note that the out for 6.07 might not be declared either because the timing was wrong OR because the proper batter was, in fact, the guy at bat. In either case, 7.10 appeals that were valid before the 6.07 appeal was tried are still valid if no out is declared under 6.07. But, after a distinct break in the action, any failed appeal under 7.10 still legalizes the last batter and cancels any chance of gaining an out under 6.07.
Under LL rules, appeals for baserunning infractions (7.10) can be made at the end of a half-inning until ALL fielders (not just infielders) have left fair ground "on their way to the bench or dugout". The interpretation of this last phrase is that the last fielder in fair ground MAY step into foul ground to nab a loose live ball or to talk to the umpires WITHOUT losing the team's right to make an appeal under 7.10!
The LL interpretation is that a scored runner may not legally return to retouch a missed base (including home plate) AFTER he has ENTERED the dugout. This is true whether the ball is live or dead and is true even if no runner behind him has scored.
If a coach is inside the coach's box, call only intentional interference. If the coach is OUTSIDE the coach's box, call even unintentional interference with the ball or fielders. The coach has an absolute responsibility to avoid hindering play if he exercises his license to leave the box during the play to give instructions to the runners.
If a 7.13 violation incites an Illegal Pitch, the Illegal Pitch will be nullified. If the umpire judges the runner INTENDED to incite an Illegal Pitch, Rule 4.06(3), inciting a balk, lets the umpire take more severe action, with or without a prior warning.
Moving from Windup Position to Set Position without first disengaging the rubber IS an Illegal Pitch in Major/Minor play. That means it is penalized with a ball to the batter regardless of whether or not there are runners on base. In Junior/Senior/Big League play, this is nothing if there are no runners on base and a Balk with runners on base.
In Major/Minor play, arm pumping or windup motions ARE LEGAL from Set Position, regardless of whether or not runners are on base. This is part and parcel of not requiring a Stop in Set Position at this level of play.
The LL interpretation is that a pitcher MUST step towards an occupied 2B or 3B before FEINTING a pickoff throw there. Failure to step before a feint pickoff from the rubber is an Illegal Pitch in Major/Minor play and a Balk in Junior/Senior/Big League play. [Note: This step before a feint is also required in high school play. My understanding is that it is NOT required in PRO play as long as the arm cocking motion (without a step) is clearly a feint pickoff and not he start of a pitch.]
Do not enforce a pitcher's hand to mouth violation while the ball is dead. However, be sure you see the pitcher wipe off his hand, and, if you feel it necessary, inspect the ball before making the ball live.
If the situation arises where there is a delay in the game while the ball is still live (such as with no runners on base), be sure to get the pitcher OFF THE RUBBER before letting him play catch in the infield to stay loose. Tosses from the rubber to a fielder at an unoccupied base are Illegal Pitches! Avoid this problem by getting the pitcher off the rubber first.
The following 5 situations are considered "safety" violations and should be handled in the following manner using 9.01(c) as your authority.
Let play complete as normal (EXCEPTION: See fake tag and windmilling the bat below).
After play is over, warn the player that his actions were unsafe and that any repetition will result in his ejection.
Then warn that team's manager that the player's actions were unsafe and that any subsequent violation by ANY player on the team will result in that player's ejection ***AND*** the manager's ejection!
Please note that if some other player then commits the same act, that different player does NOT get a warning. The five highlighted safety violations are as follows:
1) Runner intentionally removes helmet during play. Treat as a Safety Violation (see above).
2) Batter lets go of the bat after a swing and bat flies off in an unsafe manner towards catcher, umpire, or anyone else in foul ground. Treat as a Safety Violation (see above).
3) Runner jumps over a fielder (with or without the ball) AND makes contact with the fielder. Treat as a Safety Violation (see above).
4) Fielder commits a Fake Tag. Note: Not every "decoy" is a Fake Tag. As one possible test, a Fake Tag is usually an effort by the fielder to decoy a runner into sliding unnecessarily. Treat a Fake Tag as Obstruction. Also treat it as a Safety Violation (see above). If the runner is injured on the play and this is the first occurrence for this team, eject the fielder at the end of playing action (i.e., without giving a warning first), but do not eject the manager since the team did not receive a warning. In any event, the manager should now receive the team warning.
5) Batter windmills or waives the bat out over home plate in an obvious effort to distract the pitcher and catcher. This will typically happen when the batter wants to "take" a pitch, and will typically happen with the batter squared around in bunt stance. This is a highly dangerous tactic since the catcher is surely distracted. Furthermore, if the pitcher hits the batter with the pitch, the pitcher has a valid argument that he was distracted during the pitch. Treat windmilling as a Safety Violation (see above). In addition, if the windmilling starts before the pitcher begins his pitch, the umpire should immediately call Time and make the warnings BEFORE the pitch occurs. If the pitcher is in his motion and the umpire is already down waiting to call the pitch, the umpire should still yell something at the batter, such as, "STOP THAT BAT!" while allowing the pitch to continue. If the pitcher aborts his pitch, treat it as a do-over just as if the batter stepped out of the box. Finally, if the pitcher delivers the pitch while the batter is windmilling the bat, and if there are runners on base, then the umpire should be alert to the possibility that batter's interference may have just occurred. For instance, if the pitch gets by the catcher, then interference should probably be called and the batter declared out (in addition to the Safety warnings). If the pitch is delivered without the umpire judging interference, then the play stands.
Other actions not covered above which the umpire judges to be unsafe should be treated in a similar fashion.
Problem coachers should be sent to the dugout, but usually not ejected. Ejected players may be left in the dugout unless the umpires are sure that there is proper adult supervision for them if they leave the field. If the ejected players still in the dugout continue to interfere with the game, the umpires may have to send an adult coach off with them so that the game can continue.
If all adults on a team are ejected, do NOT appoint a kid as acting manager. Get a League officer or known adult from the stands to act as temporary manager. Failing that, suspend the game and let the League office figure out what they want to do next.
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That's it for my notes! I hope you find this helpful. --Bob