This section contains questions pertaining to MLB Rule Six – The Batter. It is designed as a self-test to challenge your knowledge. Answers and rulings are given at the end.
1. B1 bunts and F2 fields the ball in front of the plate. B1 is running in fair territory past the start of the three-foot running lane when F2 realizes he doesn’t have a line of sight to make a throw to F3. He throws the ball 10 feet over B1. F3 leaps but cannot catch the ball
A. B1 is in a legal running position
B. B1 is guilty of running lane interference
C. while B1 is not where he is supposed to be, he is not penalized because of the poor throw
D. F2’s throw must hit B1 in order for interference to be called
2. The home team is using a designated hitter for the pitcher and the DH is batting in the fourth position in the lineup. In the seventh inning, because of an injury, the home coach wants the DH to move into the field and play first base. The coach does not want to change pitchers. The previous first baseman was batting in the seventh position in the lineup
A. legal substitution
B. illegal substitution
C. the DH moves to the seventh position in the lineup
D. the DH remains in the fourth position in the lineup
E. F1 moves into the fourth position in the lineup
F. F1 moves into the seventh position in the lineup
3. With R1 on first and R3 on third and no outs, batter B6 swings and misses at the first pitch. R1 is attempting to steal on the pitch. B6’s swing carries him just outside the batter’s box but he ducks down. F2 does not throw, pulling the ball down. At the same time, F2 steps into B6 attempting to draw contact. The plate umpire believes, but isn’t sure, that F2 was attempting to throw out R3
A. automatic interference. Anytime the batter is outside the batter’s box and the catcher does not throw, interference must be called. B6 is out. R1 and R3 return to their respective bases
B. automatic interference. Anytime the batter is outside the batter’s box and the catcher does not throw, interference must be called. Since F2 was making a play on R3 in the umpire’s judgment, R3 is out, R1 returns to first and B6 remains at the plate with an 0-1 count
C. the batter’s actions, while possibly illegal, did not impede the catcher’s throw. The catcher’s movement into the batter should not be construed as interference in all cases, but should be judged on the merits of the play. If the plate umpire felt the batter’s actions impeded the catcher, interference is the correct call
D. that’s nothing. The catcher must throw in order for interference to be called
4. The home team’s batting order is B1, B2, B3, etc. B3 is due up but B4 bats in his place. B4 makes the third out of the inning. In between innings (after all fielders have left the field and the home team is warming up on defense), the batting out of order is discovered by the visiting team’s head coach
A. the appeal is legal
B. the appeal is too late
C. B3 leads off the next inning
D. B4 leads off the next inning
E. B5 leads off the next inning
5. With runners on second and third and no outs, B8 hits a fly ball toward left field. However, during his swing B8 also tips F2’s glove. F7 catches the fly ball. R3 legally tags and scores. R2 does not advance
A. the ball is delayed-dead at the moment of interference
B. the ball is immediately dead at the moment of interference
6. When the umpire enforces the penalty prescribed by rule from question 5…..
A. B8 is awarded first
B. B8 is called out
C. R3 scores
D. R3 is returned to third
E. R2 stays at second
F. R2 is awarded third
7. The offensive coach comes to the plate umpire to question the ruling from question 6…..
A. there is no option; the penalty is the penalty
B. the offensive coach has an option
8. As a result of the coach questioning the penalty from question 7…
A. there is no change; the penalty is the penalty
B. the coach may take the entire play over having the penalty enforced. R3 would score and B8 is out
C. the coach may take the best of both the penalty and the play. R3 scores and B8 is awarded first
D. the coach gets all runners to advance one base as a minimum, so R3 scores, R2 goes to third and B8 is awarded first
9. B5 hits a ground ball to the pitcher on the first-base side of the mound
A. B5 must run the entire distance from home to first in foul territory
B. B5 must run the final 45 feet within the running lane
C. F1 must throw the ball in order to get a call of running-lane interference
10. R2 is stealing on the pitch. F2 catches the pitch cleanly and attempts to throw toward third. The throw hits B6
A. as long as B6 remains in the batter’s box, he cannot be guilty of interference, no matter how he moves
B. as long as B6 remains in his position, he cannot be guilty of interference
C. if B6 moves, he must move out of the way of F2
