Rule 2.00: Definition of Terms – On Defense FAQs

Yes.  The batted ball that deflects off a fielder remains in flight and able to be caught.  It is not inflight if it touches the ground, a runner, an umpire, a base, or the fence.

For a legal tag, the fielder must prove complete control of the ball during and immediately after the tag (of either a base or a fielder).  If the fielder drops or bobbles the ball during or immediately after the tag, it is not a legal tag.  However, if the fielder has made the tag and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the tag (voluntary and intentional release) the tag will be adjudged to have been made.

No.  The position of the fielder at the time of the tag attempt is irrelevant.  As long as the umpire determines that the tag attempt is valid (i.e., there is a reasonable chance that the tag could be made) the runner’s basepath is established at that moment, as a straight line from the runner’s position when the tag attempt first occurred to the base they are attempting to reach.  If the runner moves > 3 feet out of that straight-line basepath to avoid the tag, they are out.

The successful defensive appeal is a force out if the appeal is against a runner for missing the base to which they were forced to advance.  It is viewed similarly if the appeal is against the batter-runner for failing to touch 1^st base.  If such an appeal is the third out, runners that crossed the plate during that play do not score.  Appeals for other base-running violations (a runner missing a non-forced base or a runner not properly retouching their base when a batted ball in flight is caught) are not force out appeals.

Appeals for baserunning violations must be an unmistakable act, but they do not always need to be a verbal appeal.  When the defense is appealing a runner missing base, that would typically need to be a verbal appeal.  If multiple runners passed that base during playing action, the defensive player making the appeal would also need to specify which runner they are appealing.  In the situation where the defense is appealing that a runner did not properly retouch their base when a fly ball was caught, and the baserunner is running back to that base in an attempt to beat the throw, this is an unmistakable appeal and a verbal appeal is not required.

No.  When the glove falls to the ground (with the ball still in the glove), the fielder has lost control of the ball prior to establishing the validity of the catch and this is not a catch (even though the ball may not have touched the ground).

No.  This shows why it is very important to apply the spirit and intent of the rules and not just the black and white words in the rulebook.  Understanding the spirit and intent of the rules is required to have sound rules knowledge.