Please note that this quiz is intended for all members of the NOLL/SOLL community, not solely umpires; better rules awareness can only improve everyone’s enjoyment and grasp of the game.
Q1:
1) Batter hits a ground ball to the 3rd baseman. The throw to first is a little low, and bounces; the first baseman catches it cleanly and in the base umpire’s judgment it arrived in his glove at the same instant the runner’s foot hit the base. Is this runner:
A) Safe, because “tie goes to the runner;”
B) Safe, because the throw hit the ground before it was caught so it does not matter when the runner arrived;
C) Safe, because the ball did not get caught by the first baseman before the runner arrived;
D) Out, because the runner did not “beat” the throw;
E) Out, because the first baseman is your son and his team is 2 runs behind.
A1:
Answer? Not quite yet–that’s for you to generate and, if you like, submit it to the umpire’s discussion forum (see below). (Your “prize” will be your expanded knowledge of baseball rules.) An announcement will be circulated when the quiz answers are posted here and when a new round of questions will be available.
Q2:
2) Bases loaded, 2 outs. Batter hits a high chopper toward third. Third baseman fields it about 10 feet from the base in fair territory approximately in a direct line between second and third base. R2 (i.e., the runner who was occupying second base at the time of the start of the play) heads toward third, but slows up when he sees the third baseman in his path, holding the ball with clear intent to tag him; fielder may even be smirking a bit, thinking how the runner is dead meat.
A rundown on R2 ensues and after a couple of tosses, he is tagged out. R3 (i.e., the runner who was occupying third base at the time of the start of the play) races toward home while the rundown is in progress and touches home well before R2 is tagged.
Does the run count, and why/why not?
Bonus: Same situation except that R2 beats the rundown and makes it to third, but is declared out by the base umpire for going outside the baseline to avoid a tag. In this situation, does the run count, and why/not?
A2:
Q3:
3) No outs, runner on third (R3). Intermediate/big diamond game. Batter hits a looper that glances off the shortstop’s glove but is caught in the air by a diving left fielder; ruled (audibly and by signal) a catch by PU. R3 heads home and easily slides in safely. PU has observed that R3 had returned to touch third base in the interim between the ball glancing off shortstop’s glove and being caught/held by left fielder.
Manager of the defense asks for and is granted time by PU, goes to PU and on the way out tells his pitcher to throw the ball to third baseman, who, when he catches it, steps on the base. Manager says, “[R3] left before the ball was finally caught, and we are appealing your ruling that the run scored.”
Umpires, what now?
A3:
