On the surface, baseball rules can seem relatively simple. A ball in the strike zone is a strike. If you swing at a pitch and miss, that's a strike, too. Tagging a runner with the ball means he's out. But baseball has its fair share of misunderstood rules. Getting a handle on misunderstood baseball rules can help coaches, players, and umpires better understand the game.
Runner Assistance
The runner assistance rule is one of the most misunderstood rules in all of baseball, Rich Marazzi writes in the "New England Baseball Journal." Many people believe that a runner may not receive any sort of assistance if he is injured while rounding the bases. While runners are not permitted to receive physical assistance from the first- or third-base coaches in leaving from or returning to the base, a coach may send in a pinch runner for a player who is physically injured and can't run the bases.
Balk
If you've ever been perplexed when the umpire calls a violation on a pitcher, but you're sure you didn't see anything happen, you might have witnessed a balk. According to Major League Baseball, a balk is any motion by the pitcher associated with the normal pitching motion that is not then followed by an actual pitch. For instance, if a pitcher winds up to throw the ball, then stops and throws to first base in order to pick off a runner, the umpire would call a balk, and all runners would be entitled to advance one base. In order to pick off a runner and avoid a balk, pitchers may not step toward home plate before throwing the ball to a base.
Infield Fly Rule
The infield fly rule helps prevent the defense from getting multiple outs in a situation where a fly ball is easily catchable by any infielder. According to Major League Baseball, the infield fly rule is in effect when there are runners at first and second bases or when the bases are loaded. In those two situations, if a fly ball is hit in the air high enough that, in the umpire's judgment, a fielder can make an out, the batter is automatically out. The runners may advance at their own risk, but they are not forced to run since the batter is out and cannot advance.
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