Need an I.D on an old baseball photograph Jersey... Thanks! 
Dan asked: Hi!

Can anyone tell me anything about this old negative on glass photograph... I reversed the image (inverted) so as to be able to see ...

What player first used or invented the shin guard? 
Johnny asked: What player first used or invented the shin guard? We were just wonderin.

Rick answered: Johnny, thank you for your question.

Shin ...

if a pitch hits your hands while holding the bat is it a walk or a strike 
Anonymous asked: If a pitch hits your hands while holding the bat, is it a walk or a strike?

Rick answered: When a pitched ball hits any part of ...

My son benched...what to tell him? 
Anonymous asked: My son (7) just started playing baseball last year and fell in love with the sport. Baseball is taken very seriously in this area and ...

On a force play at first, if the infielder dives and touches the bag, does the ball have to be in the same hand that touched the bag? 
Anonymous asked: In a youth league with amateur umpires, there was a ball hit to the first baseman. The ball was bobbled and by the time the first ...

is the pitcher condsidered an infielder ? 
Anonymous asked: Ground ball hit to but not fielded (untouched) by the pitcher and then hits the runner is the pitcher considered an infielder if so ...

5-20-2011 Indians: Was Carrera actually out after the bunt last night? 
Mary asked: Hello from Ohio City (Cleveland neighborhood rated worldwide top 10 bar hopping site in USA today): My husband Doug and I watched the ...

Bases Loaded, one out!!!!! Was I right??? 
Ross asked: Hi Rick,
I enjoyed looking at your website tonight and I'm pleased I found it!!! I have a very simple question for you. My travel ball ...

My son is a junior playing in JV and is being benched with freshman  
Elizabeth asked: Hello,

I just wanted to get advice on my son's current situation. He is a junior playing in JV and is being benched with freshamn ...

Running the bases....hitting the inside corner of the bag with your left or right foot? 
Anonymous asked: I have read from some coaches that fundamentally you should use the left foot, but seems awkward and maybe impossible to teach?

Rick ...

My son thinks he can't hit anymore, what can we do to get him going again? 
Marc asked:
My 14 year old son, on a high school feeder team, got hit in the left eye about a month ago during a game fracturing his orbital bones ...

What team did Brownie Szafranski pitch for? 
A. Szafranski asked: It's family legend that my grandfather, Brownie (Braunislaw) Szafranski pitched in the major leagues and left to fight in WW2. I ...

Must a catcher throw the ball in an attempt to retire a baserunner before batter interference is called?  Not rated yet
John D asked: Must a catcher throw the ball in an attempt to retire a baserunner in order for a batter, who steps out of the batter's box and hinders/...

Do you have any recommendations for team pitching goals similiar to the team hitting goals described?  Not rated yet
Eric asked: I love the concept of the team hitting goals. I believe it will benefit my team tremendously. I was wondering if you have any recommendations ...

Hey, is it possible for a 15 year old who hasnt played baseball for a few years can be able to rejoin the game in a high school JV level with pitches up to 80 mph?  Not rated yet
John asked: Well, its been 6 years since my friends 15 year old has played baseball. He is not sure wether or not he will be able to hit pitches up ...

Can a umpire award a base for obstruction?  Not rated yet
Rick Ortiz asked: Batter runner hits long fly ball to right field, as he rounds third he hits the third baseman and goes down. Runner gets up, looks ...

In a bunt defense, what is the reverse?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Where do the infielders go in the "reverse" bunt defense?


Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

To fully answer your ...

Can the DH also be the backup catcher?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: I realize anyone on the team can DH. But if the DH for a certain game is also the backup catcher... and say the catcher is pinch hit ...

Are we instucting our hitters and pitchers to do the same thing (ground balls)?   Not rated yet
Ron asked: I hear so many pitching coaches teaching their pitchers to keep the ball down to get more ground balls. My question is: If ground balls are ...

Scoring winning run  Not rated yet
Andrew asked: The situation is: bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, no outs. Defense playing in - batter hits to shortstop who dives to smother the ball ...

Why do we call the final baseball series, the World Series?  Not rated yet
Fred asked: We play the World Series in the USA but no teams we play are outside the United States. Also how did the World Series get it's name?

Rick ...

Do you go to a school to be a umpire, or are you elected by committee?   Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Do umpires go to school or are they elected by committee ?

Rick answered: Thank you for your question!

There are a couple ...

Does this website or another supply statistics for MLB teams batting average with 2 strikes?  Not rated yet
Jason asked: I am trying to find MLB team batting averages throughout the 162 games with two strike counts? Can you give me advice?
Jason, CA

Rick ...

What does two outs, no doubles mean?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: What does two outs no doubles mean?

Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

Two outs and no doubles is a defensive strategy....

Is the Fake Bunt OK to use...with every single batter?  Not rated yet
Scott asked: I have a child in Little League Baseball, Minor A's 8-12 yr old. One of the Teams he played, had the best record. Then at about the halfway ...

Is it bad sportmanship to steal bases in the bottom of the 9th down 12-0?  Not rated yet
William asked: It is generally recognized that stealing bases when the game is way out of hand, by the winning team is considered unsportsman-like. After ...

if a batted ball hits first base and then bounces out of play is it fair or foul  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: If a batted ball hits first base and then bounces out of play, is it fair or foul?

Rick answered: Thank you for your question!...

Can players advance if third baseman catches ball in foul territory and then momentum carries him out of base line?  Not rated yet
Mike asked: While playing softball today this situation came up. A foul ball was caught in foul territory by the third baseman. Momentum carried him ...

When did MLB batters start using arm & leg guards?  Not rated yet
Ken asked: What year or decade did batters start using them?

Rick answered: Thanks for your question Ken.

I have had no luck in locating any ...

force play at first  Not rated yet
Joe asked: If a first baseman fields a ground ball and has the ball in his right but dives to tag the bag with his left, is the runner out?

Rick ...

dugouts home team  Not rated yet
Anonimous asked: What are the rules as far as home team choosing dugout whether first or third?

Rick answered: Thank you for your question!

There ...

batter/ runner is hit by ball he bunted down 1st base line. umpire calls ball foul but batter/runner is out. Is this correct?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Batter/runner is hit by ball he bunted down the first base line. Umpire calls the ball foul, but batter/runner is out. Is this correct?...

My coach is making his son the starting pitcher on varsity?  Not rated yet
Wally asked: Hello Rick,

I just wanted to get some advice on my situation that I'm sure is quite common amongst atheletes. As I said before, my ...

How to teach to have a level swing?  Not rated yet
David asked: My son is starting to develop an uppercut motion in his swing. He's dropping his whole back shoulder and coming up under the ball. What ...

on deck batter  Not rated yet
Ezra asked: I just witnessed in a ball game the following. Ball was put in play with runners on first and second, first runner scored as the ball was ...

What MLB batter first used a shin guard while at home plate? Who invented the batters shin guard?  Not rated yet
Johnny asked: What Major league batter first used a shin guard while at home plate? Who invented the batter's shin guard? An offshoot of my previous ...

how often per year has a base runner on second base score on a scrifice flyball  Not rated yet
Dan asked: How often has a baserunner on second base score on a fly ball in the outfield?

Rick answered: Great baseball question, thanks Dan!

The ...

Focus / Refocus during a long inning?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: I am an assistant coach on my son's coach pitch team. The team is pretty good but has trouble focusing or getting refocused during ...

Scoring a runner hit by a batted ball  Not rated yet
Bob asked: The team had two outs with the bases loaded. The batter hits a ground ball between the short stop and third that hits the runner heading ...

Over throwing first base.  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: When a batter has hit the ball and is running toward first base, the ball is fielded and overthrown, what is the rule as far as how ...

hitting/power  Not rated yet
Eduar asked: rick its eduar the high school jv 2nd base.

Rick answered: Some information on hitting power.

Your hitting power is generated ...

Were batters allowed to run to, what is now known as third base after hitting the ball?  Not rated yet
Eddie asked: I once heard on a baseball history program that originally the first batter of each inning determined which base was first base, the first ...

On deck circle  Not rated yet
Eugene asked: We were in a recent tournament where the umpire would not let the on deck batter stand in the on deck circle to take practice swings. He ...

can you be tagged out at first if you do not make an attempt to second base?  Not rated yet
Eugene asked: Player hit a ball down third base line. Ran to first, was safe and over ran first base, turning away into foul territory. The first base ...

Does a runner have to tag the next base?  Not rated yet
Jim asked: Does a runner have to tag the next base when the ball is caught in the outfield before returning to the previous base?

Rick answered:...

Who hits first, home or away?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Is home at bat first or is away?

Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

Visitors always bat first, home team last.

Yours ...

Runner at 2nd with no outs. Batter hits ground ball cleanly fielded by shortstop who holds the ball to prevent runner from advancing. Batter is safe at first. How is this situation scored?  Not rated yet
Paul asked: Runner at 2nd with no outs. Batter hits ground ball cleanly fielded by shortstop who holds the ball to prevent runner from advancing. Batter ...

If a foul ball is caught next to 1st base and the first baseman catches the foul and then steps on 1st because the runner who was on first left early, is the runner out?  Not rated yet
Jim asked: Rick answered: Jim, thank you for your question.

The answer is yes, the runner is out.

This situation is a live ball appeal. The defense ...

is it a hit by pitch or ball if the ball hits the ground on the pitch then hits the batter  Not rated yet

Gary asked: Pitch hits ground then batter is it a ball or hit by pitch?

Rick answered: Gary, thank you for your question.

The rule covering ...

What is the best way to teach a 12 year-old to hit an above average fastball?  Not rated yet
Roy asked: I've heard at 12 years of age the reaction time required to hit above average fastballs approximates major league reaction times. What is ...

Is a baserunner proceeded from first to second out if he runs out of the baselline follwoing a walk.  Not rated yet
Skip asked: Here is the situation. Bases loaded, 2 outs and a 3 - 2 count to the batter. A close pitch is called ball 4. However, the runner on first ...

Should little league batters "take" a pitch to advance a runner?  Not rated yet
Robb O asked: Rick answered: Thank you for your question Robb.

My answer to your question is a definitive no!

The least dangerous player on a ...

Should under 10's use donuts/weights? It appears to me it they are usually just getting their swing down and this might just mess them up. Your thoughts? Thanks  Not rated yet
Should under 10's use donuts/weights? It appears to me that they are usually just getting their swing down and the weights give them bad habits. Your ...

11 year old hits great in practice, can't seem to hit in game. Holds the bat up front (to correct late swing) ,load/follow thru good...just can't hit the ball. Trying too hard?  Not rated yet
Roberge asked: Eleven year old hits great in practice, can't seem to hit in a game. Holds the bat up front(to correct late swing), load/follow through ...

What Causes baseball to be such a mental problem?  Not rated yet
Samantha asked: I am a sophomore in college, and I am majoring in psychology. I am also an athlete and really love my sports. So I decided to take ...

Has there ever been an inning of professional baseball where not a single official at bat was recorded?  Not rated yet
Pat asked: It might have happened in the top of the last inning in the Phillies-Brewers game on Monday night. Up to that point when the 2nd out was ...

Have the Colorado Rockies ever won both games in a double header ?  Not rated yet
Lee asked; Have the Colorado Rockies ever won both games of a double header?


Rick answered: Good question for today, as the Rockies swept the ...

Scorekeeping/Fielders Choice.  Not rated yet
Al asked: Runner on 2nd no outs. Batter lays down bunt, pitcher fields and throws late to 3rd. All runners safe.
What is the scorekeeping decision ...

Who started short relievers and when?  Not rated yet
V. Moore asked: I want to know when pitching changed that pitchers didn't pitch complete games.

Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

The ...

Single Cut  Not rated yet
Matt asked: Why does third make the cut from left with a runner on second? What is the reason for the shortstop not to make the cut?

Rick answered:...

What is the rule on a runner who runs through 1st base and steps into fair territory, but then runs outside the base line?  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Is that runner fair game before he gets back to the base?

Thank you for your question.

First base is the only base where a ...

How long is the throw frOm short stop to first base  Not rated yet
Anonymous asked: Hi, how long is the throw from shortstop to first base?

Rick answered: The distance thrown from shortstop to first base will vary ...

Transition from Coaching Tee Ball to Coach-Pitch  Not rated yet
Lisa asked: Hi Rick,
Great site! I coached tee ball last spring and really enjoyed it. Now I will be coaching a coach-pitch team. How do you recommend ...

arm strength?  Not rated yet
Kevin asked: I recently asked you a question about what it takes for a pitcher to make it to an elite college. I am setting those goals, but is 81 mph ...

How do you break a bad throwing habit.  Not rated yet
Bertrum asked:
Kid places throwing hand near the ear rather than extending the hand back?

Rick answered: Bertrum, thank you for your question....

WHY IS A FOUL TIP INTO THE CATCHER'S GLOVE NOT CONSIDERED AN OUT?  Not rated yet
Joel asked: Rick answered: Great question Joel!

The answer lies in the technical aspects distinguishing a foul tip, from a foul ball.

The ball ...

Sliding On Knees To Catch The Ball  Not rated yet
Kathy asked:

My son is 13 years old and makes some very exciting catches.

The problem is he slides on his knees, and I am afraid this will lead ...

Tagging a runner on base  Not rated yet
Ron asked:

Runner on 1st. Ground ball to 2nd. Runner dives back to first thinking ball was caught in the air. 2nd base tags runner & steps on 1st ...

Regarding your Answer  Not rated yet
Marty asked:

Rick- Thanks for your thorough & quick response. You mentioned: "There are softball teams which throw the ball to the 1B after strikeouts;...

Switching batting and running gloves.  Not rated yet
Robert asked:

Why do runners change from a batting glove to a running glove when reaching first base?

Robert from Florida submitted this question ...

Outfielder sliding for a ball  Not rated yet
Mike asked:

We had a debate on a ball that was hit to center field and the outfielder came in on the play and slide for the ball that hit his glove ...

What is the correct way to bring your arm back when you throw?  Not rated yet
Daniel asked:

Recently I have started a bad habit of dropping my arm slot and throwing off the side of my hand. I think the problem has something ...

How to deal with my sons coaches poor coaching during games?  Not rated yet
Eddie asked:

My son is on a 10 year old little league tournament team. His coach seems to lay all the blame on the players during games that resulted ...

Technically, isn't the batter out?  Not rated yet
Brian from Ham Lake, Mn submitted this question last week. In answering the question, I accidentally deleted it from the system.

I am resubmitting ...

Is a base runner out if he starts to the dugout (but does not enter the dugout) and returns to the base  Not rated yet
Michael asked:

One out, runners on first, second, & third.

Batter hits ground ball to third base, third baseman fields the ball, steps on third,...

tag of base  Not rated yet
A Visitor Asked:
Can a player tag the base with his hand while the ball is in his glove?


Rick Answered: A player can tag a base with his hand ...

My question is about pitchers routines they pitch a game to day what should they be doing the next 5 days before there next start ?   Not rated yet
J.A.Omalley asked:

My question is about pitchers routines, they pitch a game today, what should they be doing the next 5 days before their next start?...

If a batter swings at a pitch and the pitch hits his hands and lands in fair territory what is the call? Fair or foul?  Not rated yet
Jody asked:

If a batter swings at a pitch and the pitch hits his hands and lands in fair territory what is the call? Fair or foul?

Rick answered:...

Is this a time play?  Not rated yet
T. Dobi asked:

Runners at second and third one out. Deep fly ball to center field. Center fielder makes catch and both runners tag. Runner from ...

Can the infielders stand in the runners baseline?  Not rated yet
Keil asked:
The basecoach said my shortstop had to backup because he was in the runners baseline at second base, before a pitch was made.

Rick answered:...

Hitting in the game  Not rated yet
Tom Asked:

Hi, My son is 8 and a pretty good ball player for his age. Better than his old man was...He has only been hitting against other kids for ...

CATCHER INTERFERENCE  Not rated yet
Question Recently Asked:

With R2 stealing, the batter swings at the pitch and is interfered with by the catcher. The catcher throws to third base ...

what is a hit and run  Not rated yet
Chris asked: What is a hit and run?

Rick answered: Great question Chris!

A hit and run is where base runners, either on first base, second ...

11 year old son playing for the first time  Not rated yet
Mike Asked:

Hello-
Our son is a late bloomer in finding what interests him. He has played soccer in the past, ran track and also a red belt in ...

how would you teach a twelve year old to bunt?  Not rated yet
what is the preferred method to teach a twelve year to bunt? square up or pivot?

Matthew Posner asked: How would you teach a twelve year old to bunt?...

Which hand to throw with?  Not rated yet
Kyle asked:

My son is 4 years old and is starting his first year of organized ball, T-ball. My concern is which hand do we go with for the remander ...

how many ways can u score from third base  Not rated yet
Henry asks: How many ways can you score from third base?

Rick answers:

Henry: Thank you for your question on scoring from third base.

There ...

Playing Third base  Not rated yet
John asks:

My son is 12 years old. Plays third regularly. It is USSSA rules.
When a runner is occupying 3B, should he hover over the base ( not ...