Baseball Instruction/Ground rule double

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/9/2007


Question
August 8 in a game between KC and the Twins, Justin Marneau hit a ball which hit the top of the outfield wall and bounced back onto the field.  It was first ruled a home run, then after a Bell objection, it was ruled a gound rule double.  Can you explain this one also?

Answer
Maru,

If the umpires decided it wasn't a home run after calling it one, they are basically forced to make it a ground rule double.  The outfielders would quit trying to field the ball and the runner would quit running hard, so the umpire has to do the best they can to rule fairly.  It wasn't a home run, but was an extra base hit; so a ground rule double it is.

Hope this helps!

Brian

Baseball Instruction

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brian Flaspohler

Expertise

Questions about baseball rules, general information about the game, statistical analysis, questions about players, questions about Baseball records. I am a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a lifelong baseball fanatic. Don't ask me questions about training - this is not my area of expertise.

Experience

Lifelong fan, article about player movement from team to team throughout history.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.