| 1-2-5 (new) | It
is recommended that when the dugout area is extended, for any reason,
it shall be extended toward the outfield on a line parallel to the
foul line.� The extension of the dugout area shall be equally applied
for both teams. Rationale:� Dugout areas are being extended closer to the foul lines and home plate causing concern over liability issues.� Also, this is providing greater opportunities for unsportsmanlike actions to occur. |
| 2-29-6 (new) | A
defensive appeal of a runner failing to touch a base or tag up is
not a play. Rationale: To make the distinction that an appeal is not a play. |
| 3-1-1i | Add
to the rule:� have any object in his possession in the coach's box
other than a rule book, scorebook, a Personal Digital Assistant
(PDA) or comparable electronic score-recording device which shall
be used for scorekeeping purposes only; Rationale:� To allow a coach the flexibility to use a traditional scorebook or a comparable electronic device. |
| 3-3-2 | Revise
last line:� He may return when requested by an umpire to attend
to an ill or injured player. Rationale:� The committee felt it was not appropriate for an ejected coach to arbitrarily return to the playing area unless specifically requested by an umpire. |
| 5-2-2b |
Exception�����
Change rule to:� A runner who is on or beyond a succeeding base
when the ball became dead, or advances and touches a succeeding
base after the ball became dead, may not return and shall be called
out upon proper and successful appeal. |
| 8-2-5 | Add
to the rule:� If a runner who misses any base (including home plate)
or leaves a base too early, desires to return to touch the base,
he must do so immediately.� If the ball becomes dead and the runner
is on or beyond a succeeding base, he cannot return to the missed
base and, therefore, is subject to being declared out upon proper
and successful appeal. Rationale:� Recommended in order to clean up affected rules from last year's rule change. |
| 8-2 Penalty (Art. 1-5) | For
failure to touch a base (advancing and returning), or failure to
tag up as soon as the ball is touched on a caught fly ball, the
runner may be called out if an appeal is made by the defensive team.�
The defense may appeal during a live ball immediately following
the play and before a pitch (legal or illegal), granting an intentional
base on balls, or before the next play or attempted play. If the
offensive team initiates a play before the next pitch, the defensive
team does not lose the right to appeal.� A live ball appeal may
be made by a defensive player with the ball in his possession by
tagging the runner or touching the base that was missed or left
too early.� A dead ball appeal may be made by a coach or any defensive
player with or without the ball by verbally stating that the runner
missed the base or left the base too early.� Appeals must be made
(1) before the next legal or illegal pitch, (2) at the end of an
inning, before the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory,
(3) before an intentional base on balls is granted, or (4) on the
last play of the game, an appeal can be made until the umpires leave
the field of play.� NOTE:� When a play by its very nature is imminent
and is obvious to the offense, defense and umpire(s), no verbal
appeal is necessary, e.g. runner attempting to retouch a base that
was missed, or a failure to tag up and a throw has been made to
that base or plate while a play is in progress.Rationale:� Prevents
the defense from intentionally walking batters it does not want
to face and then appealing a missed base.� Preventing the defense
from making pick-off plays and then appealing a missed base.� Will
allow defense to appeal if offense initiates a play (i.e. stealing
a base).� A defensive coach shall verbally appeal only during a
dead ball situation.� |
| 8-4-2i | Add
to the end of the rule:� does not retouch his base before a fielder
tags him out or holds the ball while touching such base after any
situation (8-2-1,2,3 and 4).� Umpire may also call him out at end
of playing action upon proper and successful appeal.� Also, it is
not necessary for runner to retouch his base after a foul tip (2-16-2);
Rationale:� Recommended in order to clean up affected rules from last year's rule change. |
| 8-4-2q | Add
to the end of the rule:� �is on or beyond a succeeding base when
the ball is declared dead (5-2-2b exception) after having left a
base too soon on a caught fly ball, or he failed to touch a preceding
base, or he continues and touches a succeeding base after the ball
has become dead, and the defense initiates a proper and successful
appeal. Rationale:� Clarification that the runner is not automatically out at the end of all playing action unless defense makes proper appeal.� |
Major Editorial Revisions |
|
| 8-4-2f | ...as
a runner or retired runner, fails to execute a legal slide, or does
not attempt to avoid the fielder or the play on a force play at
any base; Rationale:� This is an editorial change in order to correct a previously omitted phrase. |
Minor Editorial Revisions |
|
| 2-19-1 | Add
to the rule:� �(rule does not preclude outfielders from being allowed
to attempt to make the catch)� Rationale:� This is an editorial change to discern the outfielder�s ability to attempt to make a catch. |
| 3-1-2 Note | Delete �c� from rule reference 6-2-2c.Rationale:� There is no 6-2-2c exception. |
