Baseball has lots of rules, including some that are official and some that are unwritten. They apply to everything from the uniform the players wear to the equipment they use to the way plays are called, and more. You can see most of these rules in action when you watch a game. As Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra once said about the sport, "You can see a lot by observing."
Balk
The balk rule keeps pitchers from intentionally deceiving a baserunner. Once a pitcher settles into the set position with runners on base, he cannot break that position to fire a ball at any base other than home base. Dropping the ball during a pitch is also a balk, as is making any movement while in the set position. When the umpire calls a balk, the baserunners advance to the next base. The batter doesn't advance.
Infield Fly Rule
In order for the infield fly rule to be in effect, there must be fewer than two outs, with runners on first and second base or the bases loaded. If the batter hits a high fly ball that the umpire believes can be caught with an ordinary effort by an infielder, then the ump invokes the infield fly rule. The batter is out, and runners can advance at their own risk. This rule keeps infielders from intentionally dropping a fly ball so that they can throw out both the batter and another baserunner who held up because he expected the fielder to catch the ball.
Intentional Pitch at the Batter
Accidents happen, but if an umpire believes a pitcher is throwing intentionally at a batter's body, he has several options. He can warn the pitcher and the manager, or he can eject the pitcher and/or the manager. However, baseball has a few unwritten rules, including those covering retaliation, in which a pitcher throws at a batter after the batter or his team has done something the pitcher or his team find insulting. According to ESPN's website, pitcher Jack Morris once announced to a runner he had caught stealing signs and relaying them to the batter, "I'm throwing a fastball and it's going at him. Make sure you tell him that." His next pitch knocked the batter to the ground.
No Reversing Umpire Decisions
The umpire's decision is almost always final. The ump has the final say in determining whether a runner is safe or out, a pitch is a ball or a strike, and a ball is fair or foul. The ump has the authority to eject players, coaches or managers. Players, coaches and managers who touch, verbally abuse, spit on or otherwise threaten the ump can be ejected and might have to pay a hefty fine.
Strike Zone
The strike zone over home plate varies from player to player, because it's determined by the player's height as well as his batting stance. The strike zone is an area "the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants," according to official MLB rules. The lower limit of the zone is at the bottom of the player's knees.
Calling "Time"
When a play in baseball is interrupted for legitimate reasons, the ump announces, "Time," and the ball is dead, ending the play.
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