Rules that are silly and/or don't make sense

Thought we could start a thread to list the rules that we think are silly and/or don't make any sense. I will throw one out to start...

Dropped third strike. For the life of me I cannot figure out why this rule exists or where it came from. I would love to know the origin of it. Was it to create more offense, more action, to punish catchers for dropping the ball, or was there such a problem with batters swinging at junk for a third strike they just felt the need to create a rule to give them a chance at amnesty? Basically it is saying if you swing at bad pitch and the catcher can't handle it, if you can get to first base before the ball, all is forgiven. In my book, a strike out is a strike out. If you swing at a pitch that hit the dirt or the top of the backstop, go sit down...

 

The silly rule I can't understand is the no jewelry rule. in college they wear it so why not in school and TB.

 

The rule I dislike the most is charging admission to students at HS games. And charging parents for the small children they have to bring along.

I see so many kids come to the field and be turned back because they don't have $5. And I wonder how many parents don't come because it might cost them $15 or $20 to get in with kids who probably won't do anything but run and play.

Make it donations instead. Might even get more.

 

Agree 100%

Students and all kids should be admitted free of charge to athletic events.

 

While I agree with the sentiment here... but carry this rule over to football and see what a mess that would do with their financials. But I think the drop in ticket prices may be made up with concessions in softball.

 

I have heard that it comes from the game of rounders, on which baseball and softball are said to be descended. I'm not enough of a game rules historian myself to say.

I can say that it appeared to cost us the championship game yesterday when our catcher cleanly caught a low third strike with two out, but the offensive team sent the batter to first and managed to convince the crew that the ball hit the dirt. They then tied the game and took us to extra innings.

 

AGREED!!!!!! 100%!
Really, has anyone ever seen someone's throat get cevered from an earing or bracelet? Even worse than that, players can't wear a hair tie on their wrist or metal clips in their hair. I can possibly understand not wanting a necklace as it may cause choking or large earings that can fall out, but a bobby pin? Come on, let the girls play.

 

But yet, they don't make it mandatory for infielders to wear facemasks.....and how many girls have taken a hit to the face with a ball before? That right there will create a serious injury. If the player and parents want to take the risk of getting hit in the face with a ball, then you should be able to make your own decision of whether or not you want to take the risk with wearing jewelry.

And if you have a gameface on in the field, or a catcher with a mask, then you should be able to wear any kind of jewelry on the face. See ALOT of girls with those little nose rings....

 

....well, a facemask, which the fishman is 100% in favor of, can be the very instrument that creates the "blow".
My DD had a collision at a base with a kid on defense and the kids shoulder drove the metal mask slam into her teeth.
Yep!, she had braces, and Yep!, I got a first hand look at how a doctor takes $6000 worth of metal out of a kids lips!

As I said, I'm all in favor of a facemask or for that matter ANY damage/injury control device in our games. But, lets make sure that they actually work like they are intended.

In my DDs case, whats up with the prissy expandable chin strap?
If you want the helmet to protect the kids heads, and you want it to stay in place, then why would that helmet not be equiped with a chinstrap that made sure the helmet stayed in place and did its job?

Fish

 

Reason why......D3K

[quote=JavelinCatcher;2407871]Thought we could start a thread to list the rules that we think are silly and/or don't make any sense. I will throw one out to start...

Dropped third strike. For the life of me I cannot figure out why this rule exists or where it came from. I would love to know the origin of it. Was it to create more offense, more action, to punish catchers for dropping the ball, or was there such a problem with batters swinging at junk for a third strike they just felt the need to create a rule to give them a chance at amnesty? Basically it is saying if you swing at bad pitch and the catcher can't handle it, if you can get to first base before the ball, all is forgiven. In my book, a strike out is a strike out. If you swing at a pitch that hit the dirt or the top of the backstop, go sit down...[/quote]

I will try and explain the rule, why we have it, and where it originated...

The rule is simple. The batter has two strikes, less than two outs and no one on first. The batter swings at a pitch for strike 3. The ball touches the ground before or after it reaches the plate then you have a dropped third strike. Notice I said “before or after”. Remember it does not matter where or when the ball hits the ground.

Most of the time it hits “after” it crosses the plate because the catcher dropped it but sometimes it hits the ground “before” it crosses the plate and “before” the catcher catches it. Bottom line “dropped third strike.”


Now we need to apply the other half of the rule. Less than two outs first base must be unoccupied. ( with two outs it does not matter if there is a runner on first.) The batter is not out until either she is tagged by a defensive player or is thrown out going to first. Can base runner’s advance? Yes. Base runners may advance once the ball has left the pitcher’s hand or it is hit. Whether it is a dropped third strike or not does not matter.

The mechanics for the dropped third strike should be. If there is a runner on first, less than two outs and the third strike is dropped or it hits the ground before it reaches the plate the plate umpire signals a strike and gives a strong verbal out call. If the batter runs to first and the catcher throws down you have nothing. If there is not a runner at first or there are two outs then the plate umpire should do nothing more than give a non verbal strike call. If the runner is tagged out before she reaches the 3 foot lane then the plate umpire will call her out. If she is tagged after she reaches the 3 foot lane or is thrown out at first it is the base umpire that makes the out call. Also remember to watch for the 3 foot lane violation when the runner is going to first.

A new mechanic that the NCAA added this year to help the plate umpire on the dropped third strike is for the base umpire to give a closed fist signal if it is a clean catch and to point to the ground with the right hand if the ball made contact with the ground. Also remember that the ball is live and any runners on base can run at their own risk of being thrown out.

Now... why do we have the rule...

Since the catcher is officially granted a putout on a strikeout, the play is not complete until the ball is at rest inside the catchers mitt.

When the catcher misses the ball due to a wild pitch or passed ball the play is live with the base runner allowed to advance if first base is open. The catcher (or closest fielder to the ball) then throws the ball to the player covering first base for the out. (The player covering first base then gets credited with the putout) Also if a runner on a base tries to advance and the recovering fielder throws to attempt to get the runner out the play becomes a fielders choice. If the batter successfully makes it to first base the pitcher is credited with a strikeout without an out being recorded.

History behind it....

Rule was established in MLB in 1887, modified in 1888.

This would be a very “cheap” triple play. That is what catchers were doing prior to 1887 when this rule was first put into use. There were 4 strikes for the batter at that time. In 1888, the rule went to three strikes for an out. In 1942 it stated this rule was adopted to prevent the catcher from dropping the ball purposely to ensure a double play. As an umpire, you will need to really sell this call by shouting and signaling, “The batter is out! The batter is out!” Thus alerting everyone that the runners are not forced to run and the catcher is not obligated to tag or throw the batter-runner out at first as he is already out.

If we didn't have the rule....we would have this as a strategy.
Same reason they have the infield fly rule....