MLB has its own problematic catch rule | Weird Rules

[@murrdadog]

Timmy Turner’s game winning catch for the Dimmsdale Losers against the New York Bankees in the World Series was a lie!

[@itsmealex8959]

@MANCHESTER UNITED Wrong. The big leagues of fairly odd parents is the biggest known sport, just ahead of jelly fishing

[@itsmealex8959]

@MANCHESTER UNITED Stupid? I think you're jealous we have Timmy Turner on our team :)

[@wimp1]

Itsme Alex I actually can’t believe that he just called Americans stupid while simultaneously taking your statement about jelly fishing seriously.

[@raphaeldean5801]

@@wimp1 Ikr? Like this guy is hilarious. The logic of I don't get a joke, therefore you're stupid is always entertaining.

[@huntercash2171]

MANCHESTER UNITED you just said the us is the stupidest nation on earth but he just said jelly fishing was more popular than fall soccer and you believed him. Typical dumbass soccer fans😂

[@joeym5243]

I think making "Harlem Globetrotter"a verb that means to pull shenanigans in a sport is genius.

[@bezllama3325]

Even tho the rule was probably made before they even existed

[@cquick3277]

Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@cquick3277]

@@bezllama3325 Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@rossbauer5425]

Trottering definitely seems like it should be a word used in sports

[@hopexiaorosetheroyal3588]

Well, I think I can definitely make up a few sentences. For example: “BY GOD, JEFF HARDY, HE’S HARLEM GLOBETROTTERING UP THAT LADDER!” “And Wayne Gretski, he managed to Harlem Globetrotter the puck into the goal” “Silva, seemingly, figured a way in and Harlem Globetrottered his way into a Submission Victory” I don’t know sports very well.

[@CraigMacTavish14]

Umpire here. The rule is in place mainly to prevent fielders from stopping a batted ball from getting passed them or even leaving the field as a home run, an errant throw from getting away from them, or a wild pitch from getting to the backstop. The award is 4 bases for preventing a home run, 3 bases for any other batted ball, 2 for a thrown ball, and 1 for a pitched ball.

[@powerofk]

In other words, the penalty (save the batted ball that would have stayed in play - though if a player is that desperate, it's probably in triple area anyway) is pretty much the same as what the consequence would have been had the attempt at gaming baseball not occurred.

[@rogerstroklund6809]

I was curious about seeing a homerun swatted with a hat, thank you for clarifying. But we've seen a lot more hitters with the speed to leg a triple into a full trip around the bases. What if a fielder touches a ball with a hat, a cleanly hit ball lying on the ground in a gap, before fielding? Would that stop a fast base running hitter from being able to proceed past third?

[@B3Band]

When I was in Little League, I was playing centerfield. A shallow pop up came my way, and I knew I wasn't going to get to it with my glove, so I slid feet first (soccer slide tackle style), and somehow managed to KICK the ball straight back into the infield, where it was caught for the out. I wish cameras were as ubiquitous back then, because that was the play of the damn decade!

[@mtallmen184]

For the first month of 2014 MLB decided for some reason to require a fielder to successfully take the ball out of their glove after a catch in order for it to be an out, which they didn't have to do since baseball was invented. It was so weird and terrible that they changed it back before the end of April.

[@takingbacktoxic7898]

That might not be the first time that occured, I remember an incident with Andre Dawson hitting a ball and the center fielder diving and catching it but hurting himself, and his team mate retrieving it, Dawson ending up getting an inside the park home run

[@stuckey47]

Yea, I remember this now that you say that. At the start of the season there was the normal amount of weird "is that a catch, is that a live ball?" plays the start of every season has, but there was also an abnormal amount of plays where the ball kept getting caught up inside the padding of the outfield wall in a bunch of the new parks because of how the padding was designed (like this happening to one team would be weird, but it kept happening to several teams, all within like the first couple weeks of the season). At Wrigley Field they had a special rule because the ball would sometimes get caught up inside the ivy and would "disappear" from view of the outfielders, so when that happened they'd immediately throw their hands up to let the umpire know the ball was gone so they would stop the runners. So in 2014 when balls started getting caught up inside of the outfield wall padding, they decided to implement that same rule at every park in baseball, in case it kept happening until each team could get out there and fix their outfield wall padding. I also seem to remember around then there being a problem with outfielders using the ground to help pin their ball inside their glove or something like that. I cant really remember enough about that right this second to speak on it much. 2014 was a weird year. Seem to remember there being ALOT of rule changes after the season ending, the big change being that you can no longer truck over the catcher, 2nd baseman, or shortstop when trying to run out a throw lol

[@robertb6889]

That sounds like it’s ripe for abuse. Fumble the ball out of the glove deliberately when it’s to your advantage to get a double play on a fly ball rather than just the out.

[@coryemm4872]

They added it because players are transferring the ball to throw it a lot quicker now. A lot of times the ball is still loose in their glove when they try to transfer and throw

[@matthewbanta3240]

I wonder if this catch rule was left over from when baseball was played with bare hands like cricket. If a line drive is coming towards you, you can't wimp out and use your hat or something to catch it. You have to risk breaking a finger by catching it with your bare hands (or you can catch it on one bounce which was once considered an out.) Then the let them wear gloves and removed the one bounce rule. But the no catch with any other item of clothing rule is still in affect to this day.

[@ericmalone1947]

Effect* not affect

[@johnosullivan2530]

Opal Trickett in the beginning they played with no gloves and caught fly balls on one hope for outs

[@Rowgue51]

John Osullivan This has been the rule in baseball since day one. There was never a time when gloves weren't used. There was never a time when one bounce wad considered an out. You're confusing bullshit games kids play in the backyard under house rules with actual baseball.

[@matthewbanta3240]

From mlb.com " Fly balls could be caught off a bounce until 1864, and foul balls until 1883 ... It was a holdover from other favorite childhood games, like jacks, and in the days before gloves it allowed players to avoid catching a very hard ball with their bare hands." Just google "baseball one bounce rule." That sight from major league baseball is literally the first page to come up.

[@Rowgue51]

matthew banta Now try citing an actual rule from an actual rule book.

[@SteefPip]

This was a holdover rule from the age when players didn't have much of a glove, so it was actually easier to catch a ball in your hat. The hat catch is what set the ball rolling, and they decided to add the rest of the uniform.

[@Verlisify]

So every cliche moment in a movie or show where they make the cap catch doesn't count lmao

[@OhBoyItsFrancis]

Plus the added bonus of getting destroyed by the 3 base rule

[@MScotty90]

They should make a movie with the player making long slow motion hat catch with ultra dramatic music in the background...then immediately getting pulled from the game and cut from the team

[@marcrichardson517]

#ALeagueofThereOwn 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jackmandu]

@@marcrichardson517 - that’s girls baseball so I’m sure they’ve Title IX’d the rules to make it more equitable.

[@craigdupree1687]

One thing about the rules like touching a ball with a thrown glove, etc is to not assume that they are used in normal situations. Normally, the second baseman would throw to first, and first would catch it. He wouldn't need to knock it down, just because it's his own team mate. But what it's a wild throw, and it's going to go into the stands, or bounce far away from the first baseman. Now it is in his best interests to try to throw something to stop the ball, or maybe pull his hat off to help pull it in closer.

[@kelaEQ2]

This is the exact reason for the rule. I wild throw to say first can easily advance the runner 2 bases. It would also come into play with a pick off throw.

[@anonymousperson3023]

Wait! I just realized. If a ball is going deep for a HR, can an outfielder just throw his glove up to stop it? Cause the rules says that that would be a 2 base penalty so instead of a HR, it's a double.

[@samuelclayton08]

for a hit ball its 3 bases... i like that thinking tho. hopefully u coach at least a little league team at some point in ur life. (ur talents may b squandered in tee ball, so no less than LL plz)

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

Honestly, it's worth it to do for every HR that's within glove throwing range. A homerun is worse than a 3-base advancement.

[@Loogaroo1]

MLB rules now say that interfering with a ball that would have cleared the wall is automatically declared a home run. Rule 5.06(4)(A)

[@andracatheduckking257]

its probably doable but knowing baseball players you'd get thrown at just for trying it also a good chance that it would just take your glove over the fence

[@skalty9868]

If you stop a HR it’s a 4 base advancement

[@2whitewizard]

When you are thinking about the thrown ball rule You want to think about it with a wild throw as your reference point. Like if the pitcher or shortstop airmail a throw to 1st sure would be nice to just throw your glove at it and make it stop since you sure can't catch it.

[@ReverendTed]

I love the awkward "Huh" when Will finds out Ryan hasn't meticulously researched the origin story of this rule, as seems to be the shtick for most episodes of Weird Rules. It's always about some person and their "well, there's no rule against it" shenanigans.

[@nic12344]

Sooooo.... Using a net to catch the ball would be ok since it is not a part of the uniform?

[@djdman4]

It says you can use hand or glove period

[@BaconFrisbee]

Or a trained hawk. They could make him a little uniform.

[@ComradeOgilvy1984]

There are specific rules about dimensions of gloves, with some special exceptions for catcher (and maybe first base?). So a net would be an illegal glove, and if you catch the ball with it the runner would be advanced past first.

[@RrrrralphBrad]

In before "not jon bois" comments

[@maxbeutner5606]

RrrrralphBrad but you didn't

[@csmith6583]

Nah he tweeted he’s coming out with a 90 minute pretty good in the next month or so

[@Quackers-zr7vy]

A Red Sox game a few weeks ago, Christian Vazquez used his catchers mask to scoop up the baseball after a wild pitch and the runners were able to advance as if it were a balk 🧐

[@fcsuper]

There's actually a specific rule for this too, I believe.

[@jphasson]

@@fcsuper That's the 2 base award, since it was a thrown ball by the pitcher. I actually made this call 2 years ago in a travel ball game. First time I had ever seen anything like it in 11 years.

[@timothyalvis6654]

1) During the game mentioned, if the batter-runner clearly abandoned his attempt to run the bases, he is out. I guarantee that's what happened, and NOT the umpires "Forgetting" that rule. 2) The 2 bases on a thrown ball is in case someone makes a terrible throw, the fielders HAVE to play it as is, and can't attempt to knock the ball down, which would stop advancing runners.

[@Toiska36]

Timothy Alvis Not what happened. Pitcher caught it on the fly in his uniform and the umpire called it a catch. At that point you can't abandon your attempt.

[@DavidEmerling79]

In situations where a fielder throws his glove at a batted ball (3-base award) or a thrown ball (2-base award), the ball _still_ remains live. Play continues. So, this "tactic" could never be used to stop the advancement of the runners. [NOTE: Throwing your glove at the ball, in itself, is not a violation. The glove must make contact with the ball. If you throw your glove at the ball and miss, there is no violation.]

[@timothyalvis6654]

David Emerling The play remains live, but now the ball isn't 30 feet away from the fielder, and tbe advancing runners can be stopped.

[@timothyalvis6654]

David Emerling I may need a redresher course on some things, but I went to the Wendelstedt umpire school in 2017. I know my baseball.

[@DavidEmerling79]

That's true, but the penalty is so severe (THREE bases on a batted ball), even if the fielder is successful stopping the ball with a thrown glove, usually the 3-base award is _more_ than the runners would have attained had the fielder's glove _not_ hit the ball. Of course, a thrown glove that prevents a home run can still be ruled a home run.

[@otterinbham9641]

Hey. I have a question on this subject. I saw an incredibly weird play in 1988. It was later in the season and the Cubs were playing the Expos in a pretty hot divisional race. If I remember it correctly, then it would make a great video. A Cubs batter hits a long line drive to center field. The outfielder (Can't remember his name) hauls in the ball at the warning track, but doesn't stop in time and hits the wall at full speed. The outfielder is knocked unconscious from the impact, but the ball is still in his glove. Because the outfielder did not physically remove the ball from his glove, it was not a completed catch. The other outfielders were trying to wake up the outfielder so he could take the ball from his glove. But he was out like a light, so it was an in-the-park home run. Am I just smoking crack, or did this actually happen? And is this a legit rule?

[@reamick]

It is *customary* for an outfielder to show the ball to make sure the umps know it's a catch, but the rules don't require it. If there were any other runners on the bases, the other outfielders would have tried to retrieve the ball since it was still live. (Player injuries do not automatically cause a time out.) The batter was out, no question, so you're undoubtedly remembering that part wrong.

[@jedediahgordon4064]

however, the runners could still tag up there bases and run if they wanted, since it would still be a live ball til the pitcher has it or a ump calls it dead.

[@metallifreak100]

www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-09-26-8901170173-story,amp.html

[@lefthandedscout9923]

​it isn't unreasonable to assume this might've happened since according to another comment there was a time in the 2014 season where this was a rule before it was walked back due to controversy, so it's possible something similar happened in an earlier decade

[@skudzer1985]

I always thought you could make a catch with your hat. They did it in that one movie that time.

[@kelaEQ2]

Movies having no Idea how a something works, not asking about it and making it up as they go? NEVER.... Watches Doctors, Lawyers, IT Pros, etc cringe every time there profession is shown on screen

[@antiolrachmor]

Jon Bois

[@zedramer]

Jon... ...Bois

[@antiolrachmor]

Jon Bois

[@heyandy889]

here come dat bois

[@trehamilton3009]

0:27 "but there was a game where the refs just totally whiffed on this catch rule." As an Umpire, I am so triggered right now...

[@TheHatchet2]

0:27 "but there was a game where the refs just totally whiffed on this catch rule." As an Umpire, I am so triggered right now...

[@FerdinandCesarano]

Terrible. How did this not cause a re-take?

[@armadillolover99]

I usually get so triggered at people using the wrong lingo to refer to any aspect of baseball but I am so used to SB Nation’s obvious almost-purposeful ignorance to everything about baseball that I barely even noticed.

[@anonymousperson3023]

@ijachacovert but runs are basically points. In any sport, regardless of how you get your points, they are all points

[@1978mcduff]

Kendrick Mott but they aren’t. Points tend to go with sports with cumulative scoring, or different values of “scores”. Basketball has various values, football and tennis the same...hockey has goals, it’s the only way to score, same as baseball, you literally have to “run” each score in. Plus if the sport calls it runs, goals points or whatever, that’s what it’s called. Just sayin...

[@devinmann3034]

@@1978mcduff Points is still a viable term to describe all of those things.

[@leonardjulius6098]

Who does your guys animations? These are so great

[@markjones952]

Basketball is my favorite sport. I like the way they dribble up and down the court.

[@victorvegas777]

ok lil bow wow

[@19DannyBoy65]

I like any sport with balls. I just really like balls.

[@samhesketh]

Danny Boy re think that lol

[@WillGrimm623]

Look up detached equipment mlb here on KZbin and you can actually witness this happening when a player throws his hat at the ball and the batter is awarded a triple.

[@Magna_Parva]

More 'Will you be my friend' please

[@taylorjudge4506]

Angelos Rizoyannis no hes been a bad boi.

[@theHumanGeenome]

This reminds me of a similar, but kind of opposite rule in Cricket; if the batter mis-hits the ball as so it somehow ends up lodged in his uniform or protection, and a player on the fielding team manages to grab it before it hits the ground, that counts as a catch and the batter is out.

[@boredincan]

Weird rule: Rugby League. Obstruction by outside influence. It's meant for amateur games when a dog (for example) runs onto the field. State Of Origin is probably the biggest Rugby League competition worldwide. Queensland vs New South Wales (Australia) best of three yearly tournament. In 2013 a tubby guy manages to get onto the field, evade numerous security and police, run over 100 meters before he's finally taken down. Oh, he's naked as well. The decision was obstruction so QLD were denied the try, but got a penalty. The streaker Wati Holmwood had done the same thing two years previous in an NRL match.

[@SeraphinaPZ]

For some reason I love learning about baseball, even though as a kid I played sports like a myopic old man.

[@ColonelPanic0]

I knew I needed more Will Buikema in my life

[@noam8628]

see, the rule about advancing bases for intercepting balls actually exists to inspire runners to knock balls out of the air with their shoes

[@dspsblyuth]

I would buy a ticket to see that

[@coltin1494]

I'm pretty sure the ground rule triple rule was made so players don't try to throw their glove at a ball that is headed over the fence for a homerun

[@seprishere]

If that happens, why don't they "report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the Executive of the offending side and to any Governing Body responsible for the match"?

[@andrewhewes4010]

I’ve seen a ball take a fielder’s glove over the wall...you get it back eventually. But what if you forfeite$ your glove forever if you threw it at a ball and then the ball carried it over the wall. Bummer.

[@farpointgamingdirect]

Cover the "catcher balk" rule that ended with the new intentional walk rule.

[@glib683]

This is why I hate the new IBB

[@EricSmyth4Christ]

@@glib683 what's ibb?

[@warrengroth5842]

@@EricSmyth4Christ intentional base on balls. you can walk a batter without throwing any pitches. you used to have to throw all 4 balls to get an intentional walk

[@theforbiddensauce]

Warren Groth Agreed

[@howardbaxter2514]

@@warrengroth5842 you know what is funny, the day before the rule was to be instituted, Texas A&M won off a botched intentional walk. If that doesn't make you second guess the absurdity of this rule, nothing will. Edit: Day of not day before

[@jjblake4941]

I don’t know if this one has been done but is their a certain reason why there is a timer for a pitcher to pitch?

[@jedediahgordon4064]

so im confused, wouldn't the ball still be live and since it has not have touched the ground yet, would it still not be a official catch when he pulls it out of his shirt, or even if he threw it to another player for the official catch/out since it hasn't touched the ground yet?

[@nritsch]

Lacrosse goalie here. I have lost count of saves I have made where the ball goes up my pants accidentally. Honestly, this seems rough for the pitcher. It just happens.

[@dontmindme5879]

So is it like a ground roll double if it happens?

[@havendavis4318]

correction: in 705 (B-E) the advancing two bases prt refers to a thrown ball, not thrown equipment. for example, if the shortstop throws to the first baseman and the first baseman catches it with his hat as far as i know there isnt a rule against throwing your glove at a ball

[@WileyKoyote]

okay but here's something I've wondered about. What if a ball is hit into fair play, and is on a direct course for a home run. It's hit so high that catching it is out of the question. Can the outfielder throw their glove into the air to stop the ball? What if the glove actually "catches" the ball, and then as the glove comes back down to earth, the fielder then catches the glove? Is that an out?

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

Nope. Rule 5.06(b)(4): Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance: (A) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel...

[@Galantski]

I've wondered what would happen if an outfielder saw a ball hit too high for him to catch and it's headed for the stands. He takes his glove, throws his glove straight up in the air in a "what the heck" try. The ball hits the glove and stays in the field of play. According to rule 7.05 (1:44), all runners including the batter would be awarded three bases. So, that would prevent the home run, right?

[@andrewflick5486]

Only if the runner (like a big slow dude) didn't advance to first? Three bases from first would basically be a home run. It sounds like the ball stays in play after the illegal act (though if the illegal act ends in a catch [i.e., throwing the glove and having it stay in the glove is maybe a catch?] maybe that is enough to turn a homerun into a triple), it's hard to say though since this video doesn't really cover anything. As many other commenters write, it is a pretty half-assed video.

[@Galantski]

No, because the batter is advancing three bases from home, not from first.

[@andrewflick5486]

Like I said, the rule doesn't say that the play ends, just that the runners advance three bases. And again, only if the batter doesn't advance to first before the end of the play or before the illegal thing happened. I wish they'd clarified that.

[@Galantski]

I looked it up, and you are correct: The ball is in play. I thought it would be a dead ball. It also says the batter advances to home at his own peril. So, I'm also correct in some situations, since there are times the batter wouldn't make it to home. Thus, homer prevented. www.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2007/07_the_runner.pdf

[@Galantski]

Check my update, Andrew, which has official MLB rule PDF, and a little more of a comment.

[@rivertrash9862]

3:20 That's clearly to keep the runner from using his helmet or something else to deflect a throw.

[@Criminal.Lawyer]

3:28 is a misunderstanding of the rule. A ball touching a runner is not what makes the runner out. If a thrown ball touches a runner, in most circumstances the runner is not out. If a batted ball touches a runner, in most circumstances the runner *is* out but not because the ball came into contact with the runner; the out is because the runner (in most circumstances) will have deprived the fielder from having a clear attempt to field the ball. It's not the contact; it’s the interference that causes the out.

[@durasaxon6504]

Bong hits all around right after the interview! Really? Woah dude- let's end it now! Cooooool.

[@TourUser9630]

1:57 - Are uounsure about that example? The uniform shown is still attached to the player.

[@sidkemp4672]

The key word here is "use." If the ball goes inside the shirt with no intention by the player, then the player, arguably, did not "use" his shirt. So when he grabbed the ball with his hand out of his shirt, he got possession before it hit the ground. And on caps, one could use one's cap as an extension of the hand to catch a ball.

[@whyamimrpink78]

There rules exist because people in the past done things like this. Chances are someone took off their hat or threw their glove at a ball to causing them to write this rule.

[@mtallmen184]

Someone ran from second base to first base once so they added a rule against it that said anyone who did it would make a travesty of the game

[@QuarrelsomeLocalOaf]

^ and then Jean Segura did it accidentally through sheer confusion/stupidity a couple years back and the inning continued without him being called out for the rule violation because the umpires didn't think he ran backwards with the deliberate intent of 'making a travesty of the game.' lmao

[@reamick]

The rule says doing it *for the purpose* of making a travesty of the game. It's not automatically assumed.

[@jeffreyhueseman7061]

Infield Fly rule.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

If you read the rest of the paragraph, it says "displaced from it's normal position on the body. He didn't remove his jersey, nor, did he even un-button it. As such, as much of a fluke as it was, it was a fair catch. The player didn't intentionally catch the ball that way.(right call)

[@T2Darlantan]

Those times where a pitcher catches a line drive and it gets stuck in his glove and he takes the glove off and throws the whole glove/ball combo to the 1st baseman, should that not count because it's not the 1st baseman's glove?

[@gwaptiva]

If you read the second part of the rule exactly, the "three base advance" would only apply if the part of the uniform (or mask or cap) was somewhere other than it would normally be.

[@juniorfibroso]

Still best thing in internet about sports. Congrats

[@norwoodwildlife9849]

So whats the rule if you catch it in your shirt? Is it a live ball? Is it like a ground ball and you have to throw it to first?

[@KansasCitian]

Weird episode of Uffsides

[@OnlyGoodSHHH]

this is the one and only upload where I enjoy Will. and I'll tell you why. here, Will is actually being himself. He is laughing, coming with scenarios off the top of his head, and just not trying to mr uber-chill. I find trying to be funny by not being funny muuuuuch less funny than just being funny due to natural personality in a general hang-out situation. (yes...that makes sense....read it slower if you must...haha) Fwd this to will....tell him a fan suggests he portrays thiiiiiis persona instead of the chiiiiiiiiiill, lack-luster persona he usually displays. I think doing this will give Will true potential to be a fan-favorite among SB Nation personalities. FYI...Seth is the best....BY FAR. Funny, knowledgable, real, with a great ability to express the describe the overall feeling of every situation and/or event he is presenting. Seth is the best....even better than Jon Bois! Yea, I said it.... and I fully believe it too!!! *Seth > Jon > Charlotte > Everyone else from SB Nation* (with Will being somewhere near the bottom....but not below Jess....she still has a way to go, unfortunately for her)

[@OnlyGoodSHHH]

ps; Will is actually hilarious in this upload. I reeeeeally enjoy thiiiiiiiiis Will!

[@Exileonbackroad]

Shut up.

[@collinbooker]

“Hey sorry I’m will” activated my Siri 😂

[@SpicyMapping]

so wait if a base runner takes off his shoe and throws it at a thrown ball do do they get 2 bases

[@lolerskates876]

Didn't Raul Ibanez on Marinera throw his hat a ball while he was in outfield?

[@noxebop]

Aw man I thought people just weren't doing that cool "Rob a homer using your hat" thing cause no one thought of it not because it's illegal.

[@kurumauzamaki2731]

zXBlackjackXz it’s still a smart move a triple instead of a hr but it might still be a hr

[@alanthomas8748]

1: if the ball hit a catcher on the head/cap then he caught it does that count as using your cap in getting possession ? .2 if your cap stops the sun blinding a catcher does that count as getting possession thru using a piece of your uniform ?. I'm British and am far from knowing the in and outs of baseball so am just wondering where the rules stand on this .

[@nicholaspesch5086]

Gotta love the over usage of the term “problematic”

[@Cesmust]

They only used it once, in the title, to describe a rule which has the propensity to cause problems regarding the validity of a catch. Regardless of if you feel the term is overused, it makes no sense to point it out somewhere it’s used once and in a completely appropriate context.

[@nicholaspesch5086]

Cee Cypher Punk oh word?

[@wethepeople5753]

Watched the entire video, then went back to 1:48 to read the whole rule. Wouldn't the "detached from the proper place on his person" codicil include throwing your glove to another player to get the out (when the caught ball gets stuck in the webbing)?

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

That only applies on a catch. The reason you can throw your glove with the ball in it, is because you gain absolutely zero competitive advantage from doing so to throwing the ball like a normal person, with your hand (other than a VERY small advantage by not having to transfer the ball to your hand).

[@johnlachman5121]

The 2-base glove throwing error could be an attempt at preventing a throw from airmailing

[@psymar]

So an important detail on that second rule is that it's only if the equipment is *not attached to the proper part of your body*; you're welcome to stop the ball (even intentionally!) with your hat as long as the hat is on your head when you do so. The rule was put in place so if somebody hits a majestic, towering home run that's sailing over the fence 20 feet high, you don't have fielders trying to throw their hat/glove/etc in the air to stop it, and I suspect this is less a problem of "it might work" and more a problem of "now your hat/glove/etc is in the stands and we're gonna have to wait 20 minutes while someone gets you a new one, plus that'll cost money"

[@rogerstroklund6809]

I've wondered about this for years; If somebody hits a home run, and I, the center fielder, see the ball is going ten feet over my head, and I throw my hat at the ball and make contact, would that steal the homerun from the batter and leave him with a triple?

[@dspsblyuth]

If you are able to do that you should automatically be in the hall and your number retired league wide

[@rogerstroklund6809]

@@dspsblyuth I just saw an umpire state that if you interfere with a homerun like that, the batter gets to advance four bases. So, it kind of turns a homerun into a ground-rule-homerun. I asked about fast base runners; guys who can turn a triple into a full trip with their leg speed. I wonder, if a fast player hits to a gap, can the fielder touch the ball with his hat before fielding, trigger the rule, and stop the runner at third?

[@dspsblyuth]

@@rogerstroklund6809 is there any way to send an inquiry to the MLB offices? they must have some way for the public to contact them although I’m sure it will be some time to get a response

[@adamcoe]

No, because the ball remains live. By the time the ball reaches you, the batter will have rounded 1st, and the three bases gets him home. Also I'd be incredibly impressed if your hat would be enough to keep a ball from going over the fence, if it was already on a trajectory to do so.

[@Tandred]

Have you done anything on the Pine Tar Incident?

[@XenoFireStar]

2:20 You know stealing is only a thing because some guy was all like "well, the rules don't say you cant advance without a batted ball, I guess i'll just go run to second now".

[@shawnpitman876]

do you think he even ran? or did he kinda just walk over because no one was paying attention to him?

[@thomash.l.9382]

you should do a "Catch and Carry" rule weird af.

[@MMM6k]

I imagine if this rule wasn’t in place people would add capes or something to the uniform make it drastically easier to catch the ball.

[@McTeddyGames]

Now I can't get the image on an entire team wearing flashy superhero capes out of my mind.

[@ChanceMpod]

I'm guessing that the rule about not throwing anything at a ball that was thrown, its to prevent for example first basemen throwing their glove straight up in the air to try and stop a ball that was badly overthrown

[@JosephJamesScott]

Couple of fun facts about that rule, 1) it's the only three base award in baseball, 2) it's doesn't put the ball into dead ball, so if a fielder were to throw his glove at a ball over his head to save an in the park home run or even knock down a ball that might be a regular home run, they could still throw the guy out at the plate if he rounds 3rd. In theory it might make sense for an outfielder to try to knock down a home run ball if they have no chance of catching it.

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

If the fielder threw his glove at a ball to stop a home run ball, it'd still be a home run. Rule 5.06(b)(4): Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance: (A) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel...

[@JosephJamesScott]

@@DavidTimmonsEsq Yes, you'll note I said "in the park home run", something that would be hit out of the park wouldn't relieve a 3 base award, it'd be a 4 base award.

[@teodelfuego]

Odd that 7.05 B-E mentions cap, mask, and uniform but does NOT mention the glove. A glove is not part of the uniform. Can an outfielder legally throw his glove to try to prevent a home run?

[@RatzaChewy]

Cricket has a similar rule - if the ball is caught by a fielder's helmet or cap, the wicket (out) doesn't stand and the batting team scores 5 penalty runs plus whatever has already been run. What differs is that unintentional deflections and catches with uniform still stand provided it's being worn, the fielder just needs to grab the ball with their hands after to show they have control.

[@jazzercise27]

I don't think these rules are weird at all. The first one regarding the uniform is in part to prevent teams from designing uniforms that unfairly let you trap the ball, think baskets on sleeves and things like that. I imagine it also probably originates from days where gloves were less prevalent and/or less effective, so a uniform or a hat might actually be an advantage in trying to catch the ball. Also there are countless times you might want to throw something to interrupt a thrown ball, namely any time any player makes a bad throw to another player.

[@saraha180]

To paraphrase 2:11, "I like to think the guys who created baseball were uncreative." The notion that creativity is doing wacky things is one of my pet peeves. Someone is creative if they things, ideas, art, etc. Creating a song or a painting is an act of creativity, but so is creating the rules for a new game or engineering a freeway off-ramp. People in business and law talk about "creative accounting," and this not an idiom or oxymoron. Creativity doesn't require you to speak in non sequiturs while making hats out of macaroni and found objects.

[@stopchangingmynameyoutube]

Sarah i bet youre a lot of fun at parties

[@saraha180]

You're watching a video series about obscure rules in sports. Is this the right setting to complain about pedantry?

[@FastDuDeJiunn]

there another instance where a ground ball went into a fielders shirt what happens then? i know its not a catch but still he stopped the ball with his uniform. unintentional sure but just like the pitcher it happened

[@reamick]

The ball is still in play as usual. Besides being unintentional, the penalties apply only for parts of the uniform detached from their normal place.

[@emeraldaly7646]

What if the pitcher ran to first base and stepped on it? Is the batter out? If he didn't legally catch the ball, does he legally possess it at all?

[@TheNinjaXGodz]

So if there was a homerun ball and the outfielder threw his glove in the air and it hit the ball and it bounced back into play would the batter only get a triple?

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

No. Rule 5.06(b)(4): Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance: (A) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel...

[@TheNinjaXGodz]

@@DavidTimmonsEsq see a doctor pal

[@buckit099]

Baseball has umpires, not refs. The umpires got the call wrong.

[@freddiesimmons1394]

Rob E is there a difference? Legit question

[@mattbayer1290]

Freddie Simmons it's just the correct term for the "officials" of the game, but I still don't like it either when they're called refs

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

did the guy reach into his shirt and get possession or did he unbutton it and let it drop? The rule says USE as in intentionally USE.

[@mattbayer1290]

2A Forever nick reached in and took it out kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYjIZaiGit-Ihbs

[@freddiesimmons1394]

Matt Bayer sure. It's a pedantic difference which rubs me the wrong way, but that's ok

[@asd36f]

In Australian rules football, it is legal for player can take a place kick after taking a mark, rather than holding the ball and kicking it with a drop punt. The last player to do this in the Australian Football League was way back in the mid-1950's.

[@vontosmagicmurderbag2611]

So wait if you throw your shoe at an obvious home run and knock it down, does the batter only get to advance to 3rd base?

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

No. Rule 5.06(b)(4): Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance: (A) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel...

[@knubbelidoo]

"There was a game where the refs just totally whiffed." Umps. UMPIRES. U-M-P-S. Not "refs"...you fool.

[@danielp.9706]

kaehvogel i was pissed.

[@daviddechamplain5718]

Me as well

[@winstonsmith11]

Bobby D sportsball, I love it.

[@LeGrandJohnson]

Immediately paused the video and searched to thumbs up the comment blasting him for this

[@Loomis2459]

Runs are actually just points. Goals in hockey are also actually just points.

[@seprishere]

In cricket, it's a fair catch if it accidentally lodges in a fielder's clothing or equipment. But if clothing is deliberately used to field the ball, it is not out, the batting side get five penalty runs and the fielder gets reported for disciplinary action after the match.

[@Mystninja]

Is there a rule saying you can't throw a fielded ball at a runner.?

[@yeomanscholar]

Ok, so... what would happen if Nick (the pitcher in the original story) did have that ruled according to the book?... the rule says "provided ... any part of the uniform..." ... but now Pivetta has used part of his uniform, so, does he have to let it drop to the ground? Can he remove it from his uniform with his hand? Is it caught as soon as he pulls it out of the uniform with his hand? (The rule would seem say not, because the uniform still was used to assist him in the catch) This rule seems very ambiguous about what's supposed to happen when it's unintentionally broken....

[@danschreimann215]

The thrown ball rule is to prevent a defensive player from throwing their glove at an over thrown ball, like a throw from second to first is going over the head of first baseman so he throws his glove up to knock it down

[@nathanward7628]

I think the main reason for this rule that no one thought about. Is a ball that is headed for a home run. The people that made the rules didn’t want an outfielder to take off their cap or glove and throw it at the ball causing it to not go out of the park.

[@bullfrogpondshop3179]

a Fielder throwing his glove at a thrown ball is not as outlandish of a situation as you portray. If the thrown ball is errant, and likely to allow baserunners to reach additional bases, a thrown glove could be used to knock down the errant throw to prevent the additional bases from being reached. Thus the need for the rule.

[@steakwilliams4448]

The rule about not using your hat dates to the era of Base Ball (it was not one word back then) when fielders didn't wear gloves.

[@LeCharles07]

This actually makes sense to me because there's the clip where the batter fouls into the catchers mask and it sticks but they don't call the batter out.

[@donrowley100]

Can you show the clip of the play so we can see what you're talking about?

[@colekushner336]

With old baseball where there was no glove they had a rule where the ball was allowed to hit the ground once before being caught, and it would still result in an out. This was to make up for the lack of glove.

[@davidtieman4102]

The rule exists because originally they used no gloves and actually one could get out if caught after the first bound. Around 1855 the rule was changed to caught on the fly. With no gloves that took skill and the rule makers wanted to keep it that way. The only exception was on a foul ball being called an out on the first bound. That rule was changed I believe sometime in the 1870's to out only on the fly. Players wearing gloves did not happen until the 1880's because gloves were not manly. Look up a picture of Doug Allison's hands who was a bare handed catcher in the 1870's. A disturbing description of what a bare handed catcher has to endure can be found in the book 59 in 84 the story of Charles Radbourn's 1884 season in which he won 59 games lost 12 and had 2 saves while pitching 5782/3 innings in a season.

[@dspsblyuth]

Wonder how many broken fingers Allison had in his career. Fingers shouldn’t nearly make a 90 degree bend like that

[@mclew1234]

The second part of the rule about two bases is the equivalent of the penalty runs rule for a ball hitting an unworn helmet in cricket, so say the catcher trows off his mask when the ball goes in play, if an errant throw hits the mask then ball is dead and all runners would gain 2 bases

[@saytr4]

I heard that King Kelly would catch balls with his cap to show off for the fans back in the 1880's but I don't think there was any backlash for it. It probably was in response to Rabbit Maranville doing the same thing in the 1910s so I'm guessing the rule is about 100 years old.

[@tylerfrith1999]

The only situation I can think of where a fielder might throw a glove or hat is if a throw to first base was way off, and the first baseman was trying to stop it.

[@Evilpengwinz78]

Cricket has a similar rule to this - It's fairly common for a fielder close to the wicket or a wicketkeeper to leave their helmet out behind the batsman's stumps and the wicketkeeper (Cricket equivalent of the catcher) so that they aren't constantly slowing the game down to take helmets on and off the field when needed, as there are punishments for the fielding team slowing the game down beyond a certain point. The rule is there to prevent an unfair advantage from a fielding team just leaving kit out all over the place. For Baseball, the rule probably has similar reasons behind it - it's probably more likely to prevent a ground ball being stopped by a fielder leaving a cap on the ground. What happened to the game mentioned in the video - Was the game protested (and if so, was it upheld) or did nobody realise until it was too late?

[@reamick]

EvilPingu78 There is an explicit rule requiring the fielding team to take all their gear with them when the inning is over.

[@DavidTimmonsEsq]

This used to be really common in the old days of baseball, and that brought about the rule that all equipment be removed from the field.

[@blasstois]

So what happens when the ball gets stuck in the glove and they throw the glove ? (Think this was a Cubs play recently)

[@paultheaudaciousbradford6772]

The Cubs have their own rules.

[@musikSkool]

We need to start a league called "throw glove". Where you can deflect a ball in the air, but then it has to be caught, if it touches the ground you can't use it to tap someone out. Or forget the glove altogether, give everyone a heavy rubber disc to throw and if it hits the ball, it counts as a catch. You know, I'm loving this version of Baseball. We have a game for the future, call me in 50 years and we'll start the "disc-ball" league. Waaaaay more interesting than baseball.

[@dumbo753]

I only watch SB nation for the baseball stuff. I just wish they'd get people who actually know baseball to talk about baseball.

[@tylerwickord7450]

Years ago in a D'Backs-Dodgers game, Dodger reliever Duaner Sanchez took his glove off and threw it at the ball to knock it down, and Luis Terrero was given 3rd. Even Vin goes on to say that he had never seen it before in his life. Crazy huh? lol

[@roughrider3591]

Do you know what would make this video much better? A clip of the play you were talking about.

[@inwalters]

Wait a minute! So you mean Stymie's catch with his bowler hat at the start of "The Little Rascals" movie wasn't legal!?

[@kinyutaka]

Point of order - the second catch rule is about the whole tossing up your cap in the air to knock down a ball, like if you are trying to kill a home run.