Folks, I'd like to personally and emphatically recommend an item or two that will truly enable you to better understand the rules of baseball.

Whether you are an umpire, a fan, a Little League Coach--whatever--these just-introduced publications will be of enormous benefit to you.

Seven years in the making, these publications have finally been finished, and their web site along with them.

Check out RulesofBaseball.com for more information.

BTW, I don't get any commission or kick back from this. I am simply sharing it with the masses. I worked over the last two offseasons with the authors of these publications to help them complete their work. My reward is at least one person who better understands our nation's pastime.

[ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

I took the quiz and scored a 3/10 - worse than I had expected, but not too bad, right?

Anyway, this would be the perfect tome to peruse on the N train to work (assuming the transit strike doesn't happen). I added the book to my holiday Wish List; what are the odds that I'll find this one plus The Orchid Thief (I saw Adaptation last week) under the tree???

30%, huh? Hmmm...

You will find the book quite informative, to say the least. It is extensive, so don't get too confused by it.

Wow, I only got 3 out of 10 as well. I think Ump25 is definitely in the right profession, as none of the rest of us appear to belong in it!

Now, now, MSU. Don't say that. It just takes a special breed to do what we do, that's all. Sometimes I wonder just why the hell I even chose it, to be honest with you.

Sure, the pay is great, the perks are fantastic, and I get to be on the field in a unique way. But I'll tell you this: It's a life filled with a LOT of solitude. *sigh*

Life can get awful "quiet" on the road for 7+ months a year, especially for a gay umpire. Nevertheless, it was my own choice.

[ December 14, 2002: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

10/10 but i still got the thing, it will help with refreshing for the up coming season. Also I just wanted to say that i got picked up to call NCAA Baseball this year for one of the small college confrences down here.

I got 3/10 too!

I have a question about this question (any of the mulitude of gay umps are free to reply ):

"Runner on first, stealing on the pitch. The batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop, who throws to second, but R1 is safe at second. The second baseman then tries to throw out the batter-runner, but the ball gets by the first baseman and goes into the dugout, out of play. Ruling?"

It seems like this situation happens with some frequency--where the throw gets away, either in the stands or the dugout--yet I have seldom seen R1 being allowed to score. Is the rule not being enforced?

Yet another 3 out of 10 here. But I don't feel too bad, as I've only been following baseball for the past couple years. My correct answers were for questions 1, 6 and 9.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by canmark:
[QB]I got 3/10 too!

I have a question about this question (any of the mulitude of gay umps are free to reply ):

"Runner on first, stealing on the pitch. The batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop, who throws to second, but R1 is safe at second. The second baseman then tries to throw out the batter-runner, but the ball gets by the first baseman and goes into the dugout, out of play. Ruling?"

I know the High School and College ruling is each runner is awarded one baset on the second throw by an infielder that goes out of play. That is if i am thinking right today. I just came off the court from a basketball game so i might be thinking wrong.

I am pretty sure, on that play, the runner would be awarded home.
The rule is that the runner is awarded two bases from the time of the throw if it's the second play in the infield or from the outfield.
At the time of the throw, which was the second play in the infield, the runner was on second base.
As a result of the subsequent dead ball, he should be awarded home.

Josh
(another gay umpire---12 seasons--even though I"m only 25)

[quote]Originally posted by js1metsfan:
I am pretty sure, on that play, the runner would be awarded home.
The rule is that the runner is awarded two bases from the time of the throw if it's the second play in the infield or from the outfield.
At the time of the throw, which was the second play in the infield, the runner was on second base.
As a result of the subsequent dead ball, he should be awarded home.

Josh
(another gay umpire---12 seasons--even though I"m only 25)

---

You are correct!

In the above referenced play, the throw that went out of play was the second play by an infielder--the first play being the attempt to retire R1 at second base. When a ball is thrown out of play (except by the pitcher in contact with the rubber), all runners, including the batter-runner, are always awarded TWO bases. The question becomes: Two bases from time of pitch or from time of throw?

It is a time of THROW award when the ball is thrown out of play on the second or greater play by an infielder, when the ball is thrown by an outfielder, when it's off a thrown ball situation (and not a batted ball situation), or when it's the FIRST play by an infielder BUT ALL RUNNERS, INCLUDING THE BATTER-RUNNER, have reached their advance base BEFORE the throw was released.

R1 had reached second base when the throw was released. He therefore is awarded home. The batter-runner hadn't yet reached first, so he is awarded second base.

djaggie2004, congratulations on being promoted to NCAA ball! I wish you nothing but success. Psst: Remember, all base awards on balls thrown out of play are two bases, except, again, when it's the pitcher in contact with the rubber. If you remember this, that there is no such thing as "1+1," or "base he's going to plus one," etc., you will do fine.

Good luck!

[ December 15, 2002: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

Thanks UMP25, my roommate told me I was wrong when i ask him about it. I was at the airport getting ready to come home from a basketball game when i posted that message, and I wasn't thinking right.

I got 3/10 as well, but I think standardized tests like this are biased.

Okay, I give up. I tried taking this quiz at home and at work. When I clicked on the "take the quiz" link, I saw the instructions for the quiz, and what to do when finished, but I could not find the quiz. It said something about a different window for the quiz, but I didn't get any. Any help would be appreciated.

Really, Pat. It's. quite. simple.

Click on the link above. Go to the area that says "What do I do next?" and click on "Take a fun and informative quiz."

The page will say "Test your knowledge of baseball rules." Go down to the bottom where it says "Click here" to begin quiz. Click there, and a new window will open with the quiz.

It's mulitple choice. No cheating. (Although one answer has already been given above.)

What the??? I also scored 3/10. I would've scored 5/10 had I not changed two of my answers at the last minute. Just like college. I'm just glad Ump makes all these calls and not me. Otherwise, the game would never end.

Thanks, Mark, for helping me out here. I don't know why I didn't notice that link before. I guess I have advanced stages of cluelessness or something. But I did get 5/10 correct though.

[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: pat125 ]

I got 5 out of 10. Interesting quiz.

I'm posting this and bumping it up to the top.

Josh, NCAA Umpire, and anyone else who umpires, if you don't have this publication, I cannot overestimate its significance. Thie rule manual is outstanding. To those of you who are not umpires, I'd also recommend this book to help you better understand the intricacies of our national pastime. Regardless, none of you will regret purchasing it.

Go to: http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/

4 of 10...Question, tho on number 7...

R1, R3, one out, home team at bat, fifth inning. Squeeze play; runners stealing on the pitch. The batter attempts to bunt over the head of the charging first baseman. He pops the ball over the first baseman's head, but the pitcher makes a spectacular diving catch (taking attention away from R3). R3 touches home as the catch is made. He sees that R1 will be out easily, and he proceeds quietly to his dugout. The pitcher tosses the ball to first base for an easy retouch appeal, and R1 is the third out. The pitcher's trainer and manager sprint onto the field to check their pitcher for injury. A normal change of half-innings ensues; no one, including the plate umpire, deals with R3's failure to retouch or his run (which obviously scored before the third out-a time play). After nine innings, the scoreboard says the score is 2-2, and the visiting team eventually wins by an apparent score of 4-2 after 12 innings. In their locker room after the game, the umpires discuss the fifth inning double play, and realize that the run scored for the home team. What should they do?

It says that R3 scores "as the catch was made". Shouldn't R3 have to tag up in that instance?

Yes he should, but because it's an appeal play, it is the defense's responsibility to act. Once all infielders have left fair territory and the catcher has left his area, the defense lost their right to appeal R3. His run counts.

Oh right...that makes sense...thnx.