Stump the Ump Questions

Situation 1 – In a Little League baseball game, the batter comes up to the plate with a bat that is 33 inches long and 2 ¼ inches in diameter. However, it is only 25 ounces in weight and the defense says it is an illegal bat. The umpire agrees and makes the batter get another bat.

Situation 2 – In a Little League baseball game, a female catcher comes out to start the game with a short model chest protector. The umpire rules that this is legal.

Situation 3 – With a runner on first and third base and one out, the batter hits a fly ball to right field. The runner on first goes almost all the way to seconf thinking the ball will not be caught. The right fielder makes a great catch and throws the ball into the first baseman who tags first for the third out of the inning after the runner on third has crossed the plate. The umpire rules the run counts because the third out was not a force out.

Situation 4 – The batter hits a ball into deep centerfield. While the batter-runner is rounding first base he/she collides with the first baseman knocking down the batter-runner. The base umpire immediately calls “Time” and awards the batter-runner second base.

Situation 5 – The count on the batter is two balls and two strikes. The pitcher delivers ball three to the batter and the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher. While the batter is adjusting his/her batting glove the pitcher toes the pitcher’s plate and fires strike three. The manager of the offensive team argues that this is a quick return pitch and should not be allowed. The umpire rules in favor of the defense – strike three.

Situation 6 – The batter steps into the batter’s box and promptly strokes a single on the first pitch. The defensive manager comes out to the umpire and appeals to the umpire that the offensive team is batting out of order. In checking this out, the umpire determines that the batter is an unannounced substitute batter and rules the runner is allowed to stay on first.

Situation 7 – The local Little League elects to use the continuous batting order in their Major divisions for the upcoming season. In the top of the third inning the visiting team has a player that becomes ill and must leave the game. In the top of the fifth inning, the player is feeling better and the visiting manager inserts the player back into the original spot in the batting order and the game continues. The home team manager protests and the umpire agrees that the player can’t return.

Situation 8 – A manager is ejected from the game on Saturday. His team is scheduled to play on Wednesday but the game is forfeited. Since his next game is scheduled for Friday, the manager will be allowed to be in attendance at the game site.

Situation 9 – The game is tied in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and a runner on third base. The batter hits a sharp ground ball to the second baseman that misses the ball; however, the right fielder makes a super play and throws to first base in time to get the third out. The umpire says the game is over because the runner from third base scored before the third out was made.

Situation 10 – When the batter takes his/her position in the batters box, both feet must be within the batters box, and the lines defining the box are not considered within the batters box when judging the legal feet position.

Situation 11 – The batter tries to get on base with a bunt. The ball is bunted down the first base line, but the first baseman knew what the batter was thinking, and was in place to make a play. The ball was rolling down the line in foul territory, fearing that the ball was going to roll back into fair territory and with the first baseman in position for the out; the batter-runner kicks the ball while it is still foul. The umpire calls “Foul Ball.”

Situation 12 – The batter tops the ball and it goes straight down and hits the plate and then rolls in front of the plate. The catcher pounces on the ball and gets set to throw to first. The batter-runner is running inside the first baseline toward first base only a quarter of the way down the line when the catcher throws the ball hitting the batter-runner. The batter-runner is called out for interference.

Situation 13 – In an effort to try something to increase the odds of getting a hit, the batter steps from one batter's box to the other while the pitcher is winding up. The umpire rules “No Pitch” to the batter.

Situation 14 – Debbie is scheduled to bat but Erica steps into the box and promptly strokes a double to right centerfield. The defensive team appeals to the home plate umpire before the next pitch or play. The umpire recognizes that Debbie was scheduled to bat and that Erica batted out of turn. The umpire calls Erica out and removes her from second base.

Situation 15 – The third batter is scheduled to bat but the fourth batter hits a single. The sixth batter now bats and takes ball one. The defensive team calls “Time” and tells the umpire something is wrong. The umpire looks over the line-up card and sees that indeed third batter should have batted; but because of the pitch to the sixth batter the umpires rules that the next proper batter is the fifth batter and should get in the box with a 1 – 0 count.

Situation 16 – If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision must ask another umpire for information before make a final decision.

Stump the Ump Answers

Situation 1 – False. Rule 1.10. The weight to length restriction only applies to bats in the Senior and Big League programs.
Situation 2 – True. Rule 1.17 allows for a female catcher to use the short model protector.
Situation 3 – True. Rule 2.00 – Force Play and 4.09(a). The runner on first was required to tag up by rule and the force was removed when the batter-runner was out on the catch.
Situation 4 – False. Rule 2.00 – Obstruction & 7.06(b). The obstructed runner was NOT being played on, so the play should have stayed live until either the obstructed runner was played on or all other play was finished.
Situation 5 – False. Rule 2.00 – Quick Return. Never, ever allow a pitcher to pitch when the batter is not alert and paying attention.
Situation 6 – True. Rule 3.08(a) (2). By rule a substitute is in the game when as a batter he/she steps into the batter's box.
Situation 7 – False. Rule 4.04. With a continuous batting order a player is in the lineup and is allowed to come back when available.
Situation 8 – False. Rule 4.07. The rule does not allow for a manager to participate until he/she sits out one “physically” played game.
Situation 9 – False. Rule 4.09(a) EXCEPTION. This is still a force out no matter how it was made or who made it.
Situation 10 – False. Rule 6.03 APPROVED RULING.
Situation 11 – False. Rule 6.05(h).
Situation 12 – False. Rule 6.05(j). In order to call a batter-runner out for interference the batter-runner must be at least halfway (30’ on the 60’ diamond & 45’ on the 90’ diamond) to first base and out of the running lane.
Situation 13 – False. Rule 6.06(b). The umpire should have called the batter out for moving from one box to the other while the pitcher was winding up.
Situation 14 – False. Rule 6.07(b). The umpire should have called the “proper” batter (Debbie) out for the batting out of order, not Erica and removed Erica from second base.
Situation 15 – True. Rule 6.07(d). The one pitch to sixth batter legalized what the fourth batter did in his/her at bat. That makes the fifth batter the next proper batter.
Situation 16 – False. Rule 9.02(c). The umpire making the original decision MAY ask another umpire for information.