Beyond The Book
Examining and Applying Spirit And Intent
In the Rules of Baseball
by Brent McLaren
In youth baseball one thing remains constant: the t-shirt gets whiter, the gloves grow more multi-colored, the pitching motion becomes a do-or-die concern the later in the game and the closer the score. Why all of a sudden something that has not changed in an entire season of games becomes an item worthy of protest is a logic that escapes many officials.
For the umpire understanding the spirit and intent of rules and applying the rules within their context is both a challenge and an imperative at all levels of the sport. A raw reading of the rules of baseball will produce a very stagnant game; clinically correct, but far from the intent of those who envisioned the sport. The hundredth of a second judgment calls, the delays as this gets fixed, changed or moved will take their toll on the crew, participants and fans.
So often umpires remark that the "pros are letting too much go." They allow equipment on the field that would not be permitted in my league, they allow this, they allow that .... and yet their rule book is the same as ours. How can this be? Are the officials at the pinnacle of our sport blind to the obvious "rules" violations we see on national television every night?
From my personal viewpoint, let's examine several rules within their context:
Rule 1.15 - The Pitcher's Glove
Often refereed to as the "two-tone glove rule" it states that the pitcher's glove may not be white, or gray and must be uniform in color. The pitcher may not attach anything to the glove that is a different color from the glove. You can read this rule literally and ban every glove that even has a variation in lacing color or you can look at the simple question, "Does the pitcher's glove distract the batter?"Early in history of baseball pitchers discovered that by using a large white glove they could distract the batter. Other pitchers placed large white circles on their glove. The gyrations and pumping pitching motion was significantly different from the tucked glove we see today. Umpires complained and leagues banned white gloves or white items attached to the glove. The players responded by smearing boot black over the glove and claiming the glove was now gray. The rule was clarified further.
So now the young pitcher strides to the mound with a light and dark brown factory model glove, or the latest David Wells model dark gray glove. What does the umpire do? Ask yourself, "Does this glove distract the batter?" If the answer is "no" than say nothing, if the glove is a distraction deal with it immediately, not five innings later. Should a coach complain then simply state, "In my judgment there is no distraction and the glove meets the spirit and intent of the rules which is to prevent the pitcher from using the glove to distract the batter." Let him protest, just remember you can take the decisions all the way up the food chain as well.
Where there is no distraction there is no infraction. This is the intent of the rule, to prevent the pitcher from using an artificial distraction while on the mound. Only if the glove is a distraction to you, not the coach or fans, should you act.
Rule 1.11 - Uniforms
The umpire can become pretty blind at times and this is one of those areas. Every league has a dress codes. Some of these codes go so far as to specify even the color of t-shirts the player can wear and the length of sleeves on these shirts. Read the codes and know them well since there will always be a coach who will question the letter of the law on how you apply the rules.What is the difference between a white t-shirt and a white uniform top? The material? Yet some leagues will not permit the player to wear a white t-shirt even under his white uniform top. Some coaches and league officials even ban the basic baseball long sleeve undershirt in which the sleeves are colored but the body, which will only peek through at the neck, is white. If this is your interpretation of the rule then you are indeed guilty of misunderstanding the why of the rule.
The purpose for uniform rules is to establish a consistent look on the playing field. The intent is to ensure that players and officials cannot be distracted or confused by the player's uniforms. The white t-shirt issue is similar to the glove to limit the ability of the player, particularly the pitcher, to confuse any other player, particularly the batter. Is what you are seeing confusing or a distraction? If not, "in my judgment the player's uniform does not present any confusion or distraction and therefore is in keeping with the rules." Does it really matter if one player is wearing a long sleeve shirt and the other not wearing one at all? Is the team gaining an advantage by this? After a while the argument becomes moot.
Rule 4.05 - Base Coaches
Have you ever enforced the base coaches box? First, how many community diamonds actually have a properly marked coaching area, as large as 20' long and 10' wide? Second, every umpire is trained to ignore the box restrictions yet several times each season, always during tournament play, someone complains. It is time to call a quick meeting of the coaches. Explain to them that the traditions of baseball are to ignore the dimensions of the coaching box and that in your judgment the coach did not violate any of the rules of baseball as they are normally played. If they insist you are prepared to enforce the coacher box rule literally.What if one coach insists? Get out a rule book and chalk liner. Draw the box to the exact specifications from the book. The coaches will be startled by how far away from the baseline they actually are required to be. Hold the coaches to the letter of the rule, they must be "within," not on the line or straddling. To leave the box they must request time, which you may or may not grant. They may not leave the box during normal breaks since they must remain in the box "at all times." The coach will never insist again.
Rule 8.05 - The Balk
The argument amongst umpires in the youth levels of baseball is long and arduous .... Should the balk be called at all? How can you deceive the runner when leading off is not permitted? Is that amount of shoulder movement permitted? Further, as some youth leagues move to change the penalty away from awarding a base to calling a "ball" on the batter the pressure on umpires to call even the tiniest infractions will increase.Understanding and ultimately enforcing the spirit and intent of the balk rule requres the official to realize there are really two parts to the rule which unfortunately have been rolled haphazardly into one. The first set of rules contain the mechanical things a pitcher cannot do when in contact with the rubber, the second set are the rules that determine what is a move designed to deceive and pickoff the runner.
The rule itself is contradictory and a major contributor to the umpire's dilemma, for example: the umpire is to consider the intent of the pitcher as he "accidentally" drops the baseball? Let's dissect the balk rule and attempt to see what if we read the bslk rule as saying:
When you are in contact with the rubber you are a pitcher. As a pitcher there are things you can do and things you cannot do if there are runners on base:
If at any time you no longer wish to be a pitcher you must:
- step off with the pivot foot by stepping backward over the rubber, 8.01(e). Any other initial motion with the free foot could be considered a movement to a base, 8.05(c), NAPBL 6.4(h). If you do not do this it is a balk.
As a point of illustration consider: with a count of 0-2 the pitcher, in contact with the rubber, tells you he is about to appeal the runner at third missed second base on an errant pickoff by the catcher. The pitcher now throws heat to the plate, belt high, down the center. You call .... strike three. There is only one way the pitcher can become a fielder and nothing he says or does can change that fact.
- use only one delivery position, either windup or set, 8.01(a). Disengage the rubber properly if you wish to change positions.
- keep both hands together on the ball once your bring them together in the windup or set position, 8.05(j)
- come to a complete and discernable stop, 8.01(b), 8.05(m), if you are using the set position.
- straddle or stand on the rubber without the ball, 8.05(g), NAPBL 6.4(c). In professional leagues the pitcher may be on the dirt without the ball, NAPBL 6.4(c)
- not feint any part of your normal delivery without delivering a pitch, 8.05(a)
- feint any part of the pitching motion while not in contact with the rubber, 8.05(g)
- not drop the ball 8.05(k)
- make an illegal pitch, 8.05(e), including a quick return pitch (note)
- intentionally delay the game, 8.05(h)
- step towards a base before throwing to that base 8.05(c)
- always throw the ball to first base, 8.05(b), if you step towards it.
- only throw to a base which has a possibility of retiring a runner at it, 8.05(d), the pitcher cannot throw, or feint a throw to an occupied base.
The pitcher can feint to second or third base, but stepping towards and throwing to a stationary shortstop is a balk. It is important to draw a careful distinction here: on an attempt at first base the fielder must be in a position to attempt a play. NAPBL 6.4(a). This is not the case on second or third base. The fielder at second or third may be in front of, or behind the base and making no attempt at a play. NAPBL 6.4(a) and 6.4(l).
Two more notes: 1) Assuming there is a runner on first the pitcher may, in one uninterupted motion, turn towards first and step and throw to second. This is not a balk. 8.05 notes. 2) Similarly, with runners on first and third, if the pitcher fakes a throw to third and then throws to first, arm motion is not required on the fake to third. NAPBL 6.4(n)
- the catcher must start behind the plate, in the catcher's box, when delivering an intentional walk, 8.05(l)
- deliver the pitch to home, or throw to second base if the entire free foot swings completely behind the back edge of the rubber, NAPBL 6.4(b)
It has always amazed me personally how an umpire will insist the young first baseman have both feet in fair territory before allowing play to continue and then permit his pitcher to repeatedly violate the pitching protocols. It makes absolutely no sense.
Interference, Obstruction or Oops!
As one final example of the umpire working with the spirit and intent are the rules concerning the collisions which occur frequently around the diamond. While interference must be a wilful act by the offense, obstruction may be completely accidental. The complications which arise when a fielder is attempting to play the ball and the runner attempting to arrive at the base may be neither interference or obstruction but simply fair play.
Some examples: the throw to first draws the fielder's arm suddenly into the three-foot lane and contact occurs. The ball is not caught. Another example: the catcher sets up in fair territory but the throw draws him up and over the third base line where the runner and catcher collide more or less simultaneous with the catch. Again: the runner from first slides hard into second base. The shortstop's throw is hindered to first but the runner went straight into the bag, feet first, and not into the fielder. And finally, the runner from second is off on the pitch hurdling over the hard hit line drive. The shortstop bobbles the catch. Your calls?
Not every play requires a call, a ruling, a decision. Even youth league umpires, in leagues which have additional "cruising" rules, must be alert to recognize when contact is not intentional ... a part of the game, a balance between solid defensive play and quality base running, as one umpire put it, "a healthy wreck." The rule may be black and white, the interpretation and application must be tempered by the experience of playing the game.
To Mention Only A Few ....
So the umpires who work at the upper levels are not blind, only working with an enriched knowledge of the spirit and intent of the rules. Theirs is a world of documented rulings and case studies on almost every aspect of the sport.Learning to take the game in its totality can be the most important ongoing lesson an umpire will ever experience. It can take years to search out the reason behind a rule and to understand whether or not what is taking place in front of you is a clear violation of the spirit of the rule or in keeping with the actual intention of the rule's writers.
It is not only important to know when to let go, it is crucial to the development of the best officials possible.
.... written August 15, 1998, revised August 30, 1998
email: with your comments