Baseball rules!

Another fine evening for ball. The humidity gave way to a pleasant night, a slight cloud cover preventing the glare of the sun from distracting fielders with its blinding light. Like I said, a fine evening for baseball, even if it is just the reasonable facsimile we enact. Even if you are not quite there, not up to speed yet, off to a slow start, no worries, everyone is still in it and no one is truly out of the running until the first playoff games are played in September. So hang in there. And, even if you’re out by then, we will still force you to play a second playoff game. So, err away. No one really keeps track and the extent of your errors will be readily replaced by someone else’s, most often in the same night. Soak up your moment in the spotlight, enjoy the laughs, then move on. All in the name of fun and it seems to continue to all work out for the best. Unfortunately, due to injury, a few players have removed themselves for the season. Doctor’s orders. Farewell to Rick and Trish. Rick is out with a broken finger an Trish wouldn’t enjoy herself as much without her better half. Sorry, other half, maybe worse. You both will be missed but, hopefully, you won’t be strangers. And there’s also another season to follow this one, so hope to see you back when you are able. We do welcome back two old-timers into the fold as replacements. Not old-timers as in old, as it applies to most of us, but old as they have played previously and have returned after a brief hiatus. Perhaps a little old as well, but still not as old as some of us. That older but wiser thing does not appear to be working out for all of us, but it does keep things amusing. But, as always, I digress. Karen and Tom are back and it appears, due to their prowess displayed in their first game back, they have retained most of their baseball skills. As with all, seek them out, make yourself known and, since they have played with us before, feel free to start ribbing them right away. With game six firmly under or belts (or, in some cases, hanging out over it), it might be time to review some basic rules and guidelines as they apply to playing ball within our league. Leadoffs - Just not allowed. Runner cannot leave one base for the next until initial contact is made between the bat and ball. One of those rules you might want to have the league look at as we continue to age. It seems unfair to keep us as far away from the next base as physically possible. If we were allowed to edge closer to the next base, it may make it more possible physically to make it there within a reasonable time frame.

Home Plate - Not for use by the runner. Batter can straddle it, slightly to the left or right of it, but avoid touching it. Catcher needs to stand on it when making the play at home for the out, in conjunction with catching the ball, of course. Runner needs to run behind it to score, allowing some to actually score without making any sort of contact. Due to our advanced years and lack of physical acuity, simply designed to keep us from running into one another. Fair/foul - Basic. A ball hit within or on the baseline, is deemed fair and requires you to run your ass around the bases or, at the very least, to first. Even if it drops two inches in front of after being struck. If it is ruled outside the baseline, it is a strike, it is foul. Not that it smells horribly however, if you tend to make a lot of them, you could possibly be accused of stinking up the joint. Infield Fly Rule - Often confused, never fully understood. Probably has a wee bit of a complex. Let’s try to simplify. More than one runner on base, consecutively spaced, starting at first, a definite absence of multiple outs. Batter, at home plate, pops one up, on the dirt, short of the grass, in the infield. Think it also has something to do with the pitch, angle and degree of the sun, as well as the level of humidity. In any event, batter is out, runners are on their own, advancing at their own risk. I think. Best left to the umpire to decide. Frees the mind to think of less existential ideas or, in most cases, none at all. Pitching Screen - Designed to give some place for the pitcher to duck and cover, to hide, to cower in fear, after throwing the pitch, to avoid being hit by same ball after it is struck by the batter. Avoids injury and tempers retribution by the same said batter. Of course, you do have to be quick enough to get behind it. Best not to be a target. Dead ball - If you bat into the pitching screen, it is a dead ball. No strikes added. Continue as nothing happened. Now, if it hits the pitcher, it still seems under debate whether it is a dead ball or an automatic out. Sure it has already been decided and the debate is already over. In any event, as mentioned above, pitchers have a pitching screen. Get behind it and avoid getting hit. Quick like a bunny. You are worth more to your team with all your organs intact. And, as with Jays, you don’t really want to have to resort to the bullpen. May be consequences. Stealing - You might steal the win, try to steal a smile (even though we provide them at little cost), may even attempt to steal our hearts. Just can’t steal the bases. And that is not in reference to taking them from the field and running off with them. Although it still applies. Pinch Runner - To be used by batters trying to keep their physical activity to a minimum. Okay, probably due to a pre-existing or self-inflicted injury, but still. Runner positions him/herself behind the plate, attached to the fence, only to depart when the hit is made by the batter. A hit deemed fair still requires you to run your ass around the bases, even if you are not responsible for the hit.

Umpire - Even if you think he’s wrong, he’s the one who always makes it right. Let him handle the rules and the decisions that follow. He’s had more training and is paid a nominal fee for it. That way, you can thoroughly enjoy the game, blissfully unaware of the rules while still being required to adhere to them. If you do make a mistake and break a rule, you can always up to your own mistake and accept the consequences of your action(s). Your call. Believe it or not, lots of eyes out there on you, even if you aren’t that pretty. No worries though as, more than likely, it will be forced upon you by the umpire in any case, who will not hesitate in making sure the call is made. Contrary to the opinion of some, even though he may be old, he is far from blind. He is the majority and, everyone knows, the majority rules.