Pharm Frog
Full Member
Some rule changes and clarifications that may be worth noting (full list plus rationale in the link below) -- Note: several of these have already come into play in D2 which started on Feb 1 including the backswing rule and the HBP = strike rule and several issues with the wind-up rule. Just heard a broadcast with a warning on the 120 second rule:
- To allow six (6) defensive conferences per game for a regulation game. A maximum of three (3) of these defensive conferences may include a coach.
- To clarify that during the backswing, if the batter unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball, the pitch shall be called a strike, the ball will be dead and no runners shall advance on the play.
- To charge an offensive conference if the batter runner or runners leave their position during a defensive conference.
- To penalize the batter with a strike and not award first base if, in the judgement of the umpire, the batter makes an intentional movement to be hit by a pitch, regardless of where the pitch is located
- To clarify that a defensive player may not block any part of the base with any part of their body unless they have clear possession of the ball. If the defensive player blocks a base before having clear possession of the ball, the umpire shall call obstruction, the ball shall be dead immediately and the runner involved shall be awarded one base beyond the last base the runner had attained before the obstruction.
- To require that to be in the windup position, the pitcher shall stand with: a) His chest and shoulders generally facing the batter, b) His pivot foot touching on or in front of the pitcher's plate and c) The free foot touching or behind the plane of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate.
- To require that to be in the set position, the pitcher shall stand with his pivot foot in contact with and parallel to the pitcher’s plate and his free foot in front of the pitcher’s plate. Further, the pitcher may turn his shoulders and face the batter while receiving the sign prior to facing the respective foul lines and bringing the hands together in the set position.
- To penalize a pitcher by calling a balk for faking a throw to third base and then throwing to first base.
- To expand the existing list of plays that allow the use of video review to include the following to assist umpires in deciding: 1) Force and tag plays at any base. 2) Plays involving runners passing a preceding runner, scoring prior to the third out and whether a runner touched a base. 3) Plays involving hit by pitch. 4) If a runner failed to retouch his base after a fair or foul ball is caught. 5) The umpire’s placement of a batter runner or runners following a boundary call. 6) If interference occurred in an attempt to break up a double play
- To establish a coach’s challenge process for the administration of video review by permitting each head coach two (2) challenges for the duration of the game.
- To require that: a) The time between innings shall be increased from the current 90 seconds (for untelevised games) and 108 seconds (for televised games) to 120-seconds for all games, and b) The 120-second clock shall begin when the last out is made. The current rule stating that the clock shall stop when the pitcher begins his pitching motion for the first pitch to the first batter of the inning will remain unchanged. NOTE: Clock will start when the last out is made not when the last player crosses the foul line.
