YBE 160: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With Umpires, Part 3, with Brandon Jackson

Test your knowledge of fair vs foul, batter's box rules, granting time, the infield fly rule, batted balls hitting objects, how to make appeals and the legality of stealing signs, as well as whether common arguments are myths or truths. Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/DII/DIII level, is back to explain these commonly misunderstood rules coaches should know before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 3 of a four-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (51:48) about whether to play up for challenge or stay at current level for confidence.

In this 58-minute episode, you'll learn:

• whether the ball is fair or foul if a fielder touches the ball in fair territory but the ball lands foul (2:59)
• whether the ball is fair if a fielder's feet are in fair territory when the fielder touches the ball [from Chris M] (4:45)
• whether the ball is fair or foul if a fielder touches the ball in foul territory but the ball lands fair [from Colin] (5:07)
• is the batter always safe if he stays in the batter's box when a catcher is throwing to 3B on a steal attempt of 3B (6:59)
• is the batter always out if he steps out of the box during a catcher's throw down to 3B (9:25)
• whether the batter can do whatever he wants as long as he stays in the batter's box during a catcher's throw down to 3B (10:10)
• whether the batter can be called out for interference even if he stays in the box (12:18)
• whether the catcher must throw the ball to get the batter interference call on a steal of 3B (12:23)
• what happens if the batter is moving to the back of the batter's box and not trying to get out of the way of the catcher's throw to 3B [from Morgan] (13:50)
• whether the batter should be called for interference when doing normal batter things during a catcher's throw down to 3B (15:10)
• further clarification of whether the catcher must throw the ball to get batter interference on a steal of 3B [from John H] (16:06)
• whether the batter is automatically out for not stepping out of the batter's box on a play at the plate on a wild pitch/passed ball (16:55)
• who is out if there is batter interference when a 3B runner is out on a play at home plate (17:54)
• how much of a batter's foot must be out of the batter's box to be considered out of the batter's box [from Robert] (18:50)
• what does it take to have the umpires be aware of batter interference on catcher throws to 3B [from Erik] (20:46)
• whether tie goes to the runner (22:38)
• whether the batter-runner must turn to the right after hitting 1B in order to not be tagged out when returning to 1B [from Dr. Cosimo & Chris M] (23:28)
• whether the batter can overrun 1B on a walk [from Colin] (25:01)
• whether the batter's hands are part of the bat in terms of calling it a foul ball and not hit by pitch (26:08)
• would an umpire ever not grant time called by the catcher to call a defensive play [from Erik] (26:46)
• what happens if an umpire does not expressly put the ball back into play after a foul ball and there is a successful pickoff attempt (28:02)
• what exactly is the infield fly rule [from Chase] (30:33)
• whether a bunted ball can be called an infield fly [from Scott] (32:13)
• what happens if a batted ball hits an object, like a bird [from Bryce] (32:52)
• how to appeal a baserunner missing a base [from Robert] (35:02)
• what is the best way to challenge a call and ask for the other umpire's opinion [from Don] (37:29)
• whether calling time disqualifies the team from making an appeal [from Jeff] (39:58)
• whether the pitcher must step off the rubber to throw to a base to make an appeal [from Dave] (41:05)
• whether an appeal must always start with the pitcher with the ball (42:54)
• whether it's illegal or just an unwritten rule to steal signs [from Craig] (43:56)
• whether it's illegal for an infielder to intentionally drop a line drive [from Craig] (45:27)
• whether it's illegal for an infielder to intentionally deceive the runner while the pitcher has the ball (47:15)
• when a hard tag can be malicious (49:05)

Resources and links mentioned in this episode

• Batter not guilty of interference if he stays in the batter's box during a steal of 3B
• Close Call Sports

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