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| Rules 608c and 7.07 now agree. Both rules address a situation in which a fielder interferes with a runner on third who is attempting to reach home on a steal or a squeeze play. While rule 7.07 called for a balk, rule 6.08c didn’t. They now agree. As a result of the interference, the pitcher is charged with a balk, the batter is awarded first base and the ball is dead. The pitcher has only 12 seconds to deliver a pitch. The time limit for a pitch to be delivered with no runners on base has been reduced to 12 seconds, down from the previous 20 second limit. The countdown begins the instant the pitcher receives the ball. The pitcher’s glove can now be multi-colored. However, it must not be distracting to the batter or make it too easy to hide the ball. |
If the batter refuses to take his place in the batter’s box, the umpire will call an automatic strike. Previously, if the batter refused to enter the box, the pitcher had to “pitch to no one” before the strike was called. A fielder is permitted Previously a fielder was permitted to enter the dugout to make a catch. He may now complete the catch in the dugout, but his first touch of the ball must occur with one or both feet on or over the playing surface, and with no foot touching the ground inside the dugout. A batter will be called out if he brings an illegal bat into the batter’s box. The previous wording of this rule implied that the batter actually had to swing the illegal bat before being called out. |
Games can no longer If a tied game must be terminated before it has become a regulation game, it is a “no game.” If a tied game is terminated after becoming a regulation game, it is suspended and must be continued on another day. The “baseline” has been redefined. On a tag play a runner is required to stay within three feet of his baseline. Until now a runner’s baseline was considered to be a straight line between the bases. Under the new rules it is defined as a straight line between the base and the runner’s position at the instant the tag is first attempted
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