1. Objective of the Game
  2. Definition of Terms
  3. Game Preliminaries
  4. Starting and Ending Games
  5. Putting the Ball in Play
  6. The Batter
  7. The Runner
  8. The Pitcher
  9. The Umpire
  10. The Official Scorer

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5.00 - Putting the Ball in Play: Live Ball

5.01 - At the time set for beginning the game the umpire-in-chief shall order the home team to take its defensive positions and the first batter of the visiting team to take position in the batters box. As soon as all players are in position the umpire-in-chief shall call "Play".
5.02 - After the umpire calls 'Play" the ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until, for legal cause, or at the umpires call of 'Time"suspending play, the ball becomes dead. While the ball is dead, no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may he scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to an overthrow, interference, or a home run or other fair hit out of the playing field).
5.03 - The pitcher shall deliver the pitch to the batter who may elect to strike the ball, or who may not offer at it, as such batter chooses.
5.04 - The offensive team's objective is to have its batter become a runner, and its runners advance.
5.05 - The defensive team's objective is to prevent offensive players from becoming runners, and to prevent their advance around the bases.
5.06 - When a batter becomes a runner and touches all bases legally, one run shall be scored for the offensive team.
5.07 - When three offensive players are legally put out, that team takes the field and the opposing team becomes the offensive team.
5.08 - If a thrown ball accidentally touches a base coach, or a pitched or thrown ball touches an umpire, the ball is alive and in play. However, if the coach interferes with a thrown ball, the runner is out.
5.09 - The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when:
(a) A pitched ball touches a batter, or the batter's clothing, while in a legal batting position; runners, if forced, advance (see 6.08);
(b) The plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base; runners return. If catcher's throw gets the runner out, the out stands. No umpire interference;
(c) Reserved;
(d) A ball is illegally batted either fair or foul; runners return;
(e) A foul ball not caught, runners return. The umpire shall not put the ball in play until all runners have retouched their bases;
(f) A fair ball touches a runner or an umpire on fair territory before it touches an infielder including the pitcher, or touches an umpire before it has passed an infielder other than the pitcher. Runner hit by fair batted ball is out;
· NOTE: If a fair ball goes through, or by an infielder and touches a runner immediately back of said infielder, or touches a runner after being deflected by an infielder, the ball is in play and the umpire shall not declare the runner out. In making such decision, the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the infielder and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball; runners advance, if forced.
(g) A pitched ball lodges in the umpire's or catcher's mask or paraphernalia and remains out of play; runners advance one base.
(h) Reserved
5.10 - The ball becomes dead when an umpire calls "Time." The umpire-in-chief shall call "Time".
(a) When in said umpire's judgment, weather, darkness or similar conditions make immediate further play impossible;
(b) When light failure makes it difficult or impossible for the umpires to follow the play;
· NOTE: A league may adopt its own regulations governing games interrupted by light failure.
(c) When an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire;
· (1) If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent said runner from proceeding to an entitled base, as on a home run hit out of the playing field or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner, shall be permitted to complete the play.
(d) When a manager requests "time" for a substitution, or for a conference with one of the players;
(e) When the umpire wishes to examine the ball, to consult with either manager, or for any similar cause;
(f) When a fielder, after catching a fly ball, falls into a bench or stand, or falls across ropes into a crowd when spectators are on the field. Runners advance one base, ball is dead;
· NOTE: If a fielder, after making a catch, steps into a bench but does not fall, the ball is in play and runners may advance at their own peril.
(g) When an umpire orders a player or any other person removed from the playing field;
(h) Except in the cases stated in paragraphs (b) and (c) (1) of this rule, no umpire shall call "Time" while a play is in progress.
5.11 - After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes position on the pitcher's plate with a new ball or the same ball in said pitcher's possession and the plate umpire calls "Play." The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes position on the plate with possession of the ball.
5.12 - A manager shall be entitled to request time, on defense, to talk to his players twice in the same inning while the same pitcher is on the mound without penalty. On the third request for time with the same pitcher on the mound, the manager shall be required to remove the pitcher from the mound but not from the game.
· EXAMPLE: With Bill Smith pitching the manager requests and is granted his third time out of the inning. Bill Smith consequently is removed from the mound and is replaced with Sam Scott. Bill Smith is eligible to go to another position or he can come out of the game. The manager subsequently is granted a fourth time out in the same inning. There is no violation this time, and Sam Scott may continue to pitch until the third time out is granted with him on the mound.
5.13 - One time-out shall be allowed on offense to talk to a batter during the same time at-bat. Requesting a second time out to talk to the batter during the same at-bat shall result in the coach being removed from the coach's box and placed in the dugout for the remainder of the game.
· NOTE:A time-out because of an injury or sickness or for the purpose of discussing a play situation with an umpire shall not be considered a charged time-out for the purpose of this rule. Also, managers are cautioned that an umpire is the only one who can call time; managers may only request that time be called by the umpire.