The Batter - Rule 6
Batter Outs
Introduction. In this section, we discuss the ways batters can make and out and batter base awards. We discuss three ways batters can be called out: Rule 6.05 ("A batter is out when"), Rule 6.06 ("A batter is out for illegal action when"), Rule 6.07 (Batting out of turn). Those three rules provide 16 ways for a defense to get an out. Rule 6.08 (batter entitled to 1B "without liability to be put out") covers ways batters are awarded 1B without having to get a hit.
The Batter is Out When (Rule 6.05). We won't cover the obvious outs, which you already know, like a strike out, throw out, fly out, bunting foul with two strikes, etc. Here are some less familiar ones or ones the players or coaches might not fully understand. We'll discuss infield fly in a separate lesson.
Catch and tag outs. As defined in Rule 2, a catch occurs when the ball is gloved “in flight” -- meaning the batted ball hasn't touched the ground, or offensive player, or umpire AND the is held "long enough to prove complete control of the ball and that release is voluntary and intentional." The rule adds that if the ball is immediately jarred loose by the ground or some other collision, it's not a catch. The most typical situation calling for umpire judgment is when the fielder gloves the ball, but when taking it out to throw to another base, drops it. The catch or out still stands.
A tag also requires the ball be held "securely and firmly in the hand or glove." Thus juggling or fumbling with the ball or trapping the ball between the hand and ground or hand and another body part (think of a first baseman, fielding a scooped ball that rides up the arm) cannot result in a tag. Although the tag definition does not mention subsequent dropping or collisions or proving complete control, like the catch definition does, umpires still must decide whether, when the tag was applied, the fielder had complete control. Instant dropping (assuming the runner did not cause the drop by kicking at or swatting at it) is usually taken as lack of complete control, the result being no tag. This can be a difficult call, which is why you, as they say, get paid the "big bucks"!
Introduction. In this section, we discuss the ways batters can make and out and batter base awards. We discuss three ways batters can be called out: Rule 6.05 ("A batter is out when"), Rule 6.06 ("A batter is out for illegal action when"), Rule 6.07 (Batting out of turn). Those three rules provide 16 ways for a defense to get an out. Rule 6.08 (batter entitled to 1B "without liability to be put out") covers ways batters are awarded 1B without having to get a hit.
The Batter is Out When (Rule 6.05). We won't cover the obvious outs, which you already know, like a strike out, throw out, fly out, bunting foul with two strikes, etc. Here are some less familiar ones or ones the players or coaches might not fully understand. We'll discuss infield fly in a separate lesson.
Catch and tag outs. As defined in Rule 2, a catch occurs when the ball is gloved “in flight” -- meaning the batted ball hasn't touched the ground, or offensive player, or umpire AND the is held "long enough to prove complete control of the ball and that release is voluntary and intentional." The rule adds that if the ball is immediately jarred loose by the ground or some other collision, it's not a catch. The most typical situation calling for umpire judgment is when the fielder gloves the ball, but when taking it out to throw to another base, drops it. The catch or out still stands.
A tag also requires the ball be held "securely and firmly in the hand or glove." Thus juggling or fumbling with the ball or trapping the ball between the hand and ground or hand and another body part (think of a first baseman, fielding a scooped ball that rides up the arm) cannot result in a tag. Although the tag definition does not mention subsequent dropping or collisions or proving complete control, like the catch definition does, umpires still must decide whether, when the tag was applied, the fielder had complete control. Instant dropping (assuming the runner did not cause the drop by kicking at or swatting at it) is usually taken as lack of complete control, the result being no tag. This can be a difficult call, which is why you, as they say, get paid the "big bucks"!