- The hollow beneath a batter’s knee cap is at the bottom of the strike zone.
- C – A fair ball even if it bounces into foul territory.
- A catcher is allowed to wear the largest glove. The overall allowable height of a catcher’s mitt – 15.5 inches – exceeds that of the next two longest gloves – those generally worn by first basemen and outfielders, which measure 12 inches.
- True. A pitched ball that bounces before reaching home plate is still hittable.
- False. A batter’s feet may touch the lines of the batter’s box so long as they don’t extend beyond them. If that happens, the batter is out.
- The lead runner is entitled to the base and the trailing runner must try to go back to the previous base. If both remain at the same base, a tag out erases the trailing runner.
- True. A batter must try to get out of the way of a pitch; otherwise, he will not be allowed to take first base if he’s hit. The batter also is not awarded first base if he swings at a pitch that hits him.
- False. If a batter or his team realizes the mistake before the end of the at-bat, the player at the plate simply steps aside and lets the proper player come to bat with the balls-and-strikes count carried over. The improper batter is called out, however, if the team in the field appeals to the umpire before the batter who missed his turn is pitched to.
- If a manager persists in making a second visit to the mound while the same batter is at the plate, the pitcher is removed from the game, but not until he’s finished pitching to the current batter.
- False. A baserunner who prematurely leaves the bag is not out unless he advances and the fielding team either tags him or tags the base from which he left before he can return.
- False. The catcher may not block home plate unless he is fielding a ball or already has the ball in his hand.
- True. Although the arc of a batted ball may have it falling short of the fence, if it accidentally deflected over the fence, it is a home run. This principle applies when the fielder’s body is involved, too.
- True. The runner is fair game to be tagged out either if he doesn’t immediately return to first base or if he makes any move at all toward second base.
- The batter is automatically and unconditionally out when he bunts the ball foul with two strikes.
- The Umpire-in-Chief is entrusted to make the call when two umpires have simultaneously made conflicting calls, but only after conferring with his colleagues.
- True. Play continues if a thrown ball happens to hit an umpire. If a pitch gets stuck in the plate umpire’s mask, the play is dead and any base runners are awarded one base.
- If the coach made no attempt to get out of the way, interference is called and the batter is out.
- A player’s bat is removed from the game, but not the player, if his bat is found to exceed the pine tar restrictions, which limit pine tar to the bottom 18 inches of the bat. Some question, however, whether there is any advantage to the hitter if the tar extends to the barrel of the bat.
- The pitcher can bring his pitching hand into contact with his mouth or lips when on the mound, but not standing on the pitching rubber. He also may blow on his pitching hand in cold weather, if both managers agree before the game.
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