Image by Keith Allison via Flickr
In case you're stumped, here they are:
1. Hit
2. Walk
3. Hit by Pitch
4. Fielder's Choice
5. Reached on Error
6. Dropped Third Strike
7. Catcher's Interference
8. Fielder's Interference
Now, you will find people who argue additional ways exist, but they are almost always variations of one of the 8 listed above. For example, yes, a batter can reach first on a wild pitch with 3 balls already in the count, but folks, that's still a walk, covered in #2.
And for you wise-acres who want to add "Being inserted as a pinch-runner," clever but wrong. The list is ways a batter can reach first, and a pinch-runner ain't a batter!
There also happen to be exactly 8 days until Opening Day 2010...can't wait!
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What about a balk?
ReplyDeleteExisting base runners advance on a balk, but the batter is not awarded first base.
ReplyDeleteYou should narrow that to 7. The last two are the same. Interference is interference. Lat time I checked a catcher was a fielder. Also a fan could interfere as well.
ReplyDeleteI think the intent is to say that a catcher is not a fielder till the ball is in play. Till then, he may interfere by touching the bat, or other part of the batter.
DeleteWhat about a pinch-runner?
DeleteFan interference vs. the defensive player attempting to catch the batted ball results in the batter being declared out, this not reaching first base.
ReplyDeleteThere is a balk that the batter is awarded first. Rule 7.07 . Check it out.
ReplyDeleteThere is a balk that the batter is awarded first. Rule 7.07 . Check it out.
ReplyDeleteThere is a balk that the batter is awarded first. Rule 7.07 . Check it out.
ReplyDeleteYes the pitcher is charged with a balk - this is what advances the RUNNER. The batter is awarded first for the INTERFERENCE.
DeleteThe catcher can interfere in which the batter can reach first but also any other fielder can also interfere by obstructing the path of the base runner but it could be narrowed to 7 and cover interference all together but it could also be 8 so either way works
ReplyDeleteIt's seven.
ReplyDeleteThe last two are the same and should be grouped as "defensive interference."
Catcher interference is on a swing prior to a ball being put in play, where fielder interference is once a ball is in play.
DeleteIllegal material in the pitchers glove i.e. sandpaper after a count has begun will advance the batter to first base.
ReplyDeleteIllegal material in the pitchers glove i.e. sandpaper after a count has begun will advance the batter to first base.
ReplyDeleteNegative - Rule 6.02 (d) Penalty prescribes a ball added to the batters count and runners advance one base (if the manager accepts the penalty). Batter is not awarded first for the pitchers illegal "equipment"
DeleteWhat about umpire interference?
ReplyDeleteAll "interference" (catcher & umpire) could be kept in the category of interference. When a fielder hinders the batter/runner this is referred to as OBSTRUCTION. Therefore #8 of the original post should read Fielder's obstruction.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, an earlier post referenced the catchers interference is PRIOR to the ball being batted. This illustrates that catchers interference is different that umpires interference. Based on that nuance, I would say there are NINE different ways a batter can reach base, even though two of them share the word interference.