Ground rules

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Fenway Park has a ground rule for balls that hit the top of the ladder on the Green Monster and go out of play--the batter is awarded a ground rule double Green Monster.jpg
Fenway Park has a ground rule for balls that hit the top of the ladder on the Green Monster and go out of play—the batter is awarded a ground rule double

Ground rules are rules applying to the field, objects on and near it, and special situations relating to them, in the game of baseball. Major League Baseball has defined a set of "universal ground rules" that apply to all MLB ballparks; [1] individual ballparks have the latitude to set ground rules above and beyond the universal ground rules, as long as they do not directly contradict each other. Additionally, a set of universal ground rules exists for the six MLB stadiums with retractable roofs, with the individual ballparks able to set additional rules.

Contents

Unlike the well-defined playing field of most other sports, the playing area of a baseball field extends to an outfield fence in fair territory and the stadium seating in foul territory. The unique design of each ballpark, including fences, dugouts, bullpens, railings, stadium domes, photographer's wells and TV camera booths, requires that rules be defined to handle situations in which these objects may interact or interfere with the ball in play or with the players, and adaptable by ballpark within the universal rules.

The term is familiar to most fans through the ground rule double, a batted ball that bounces fair, then over the outfield fence in fair or foul territory for a two-base hit.

MLB

Universal

Individual ballpark

Individual ballpark ground rules vary greatly from ballpark to ballpark. For the 2017 season, Citi Field, Kauffman Stadium, Target Field, Yankee Stadium, and Rate Field are the only MLB ballparks that do not have individual ground rules above the universal set. [1]

Examples of ground rules that have been or are still in major league ballparks include:[ citation needed ]

Movement of retractable roofs

These ground rules only apply at ballparks featuring retractable roofs. As of the 2021 season, these are: Rogers Centre, Chase Field, T-Mobile Park, American Family Field, Daikin Park, and LoanDepot Park. Rules governing batted balls striking the roof are defined in each individual ballpark's ground rules.

Universal

  • The decision as to whether a game begins with the roof open or closed rests solely with the home club.
  • If the game begins with the roof open:
    • It shall be closed only in the event of impending rain or other adverse weather conditions. The decision to close the roof shall be made by the home club, after consultation with the Umpire Crew Chief.
    • The Umpire Crew Chief shall notify the visiting club, which may challenge the closing of the roof if it feels that a competitive imbalance will arise. In such an event, the Umpire Crew Chief shall make a final decision based on the merits of the challenge.

Ballpark-specific

All ballpark-specific retractable roof ground rules concern opening of the roof after a game has started.

If the game starts with the roof closed:

  • American Family Field, Chase Field, Daikin Park, & T-Mobile Park permit its opening during the game if weather conditions warrant, as long as the following procedure is followed: [1]
    • The roof may be opened only once during the game.
    • The Umpire Crew Chief will be notified at the beginning of the inning that the roof will be opened at the inning's end.
    • The Umpire Crew Chief shall notify the visiting club, which may challenge the opening of the roof. In such an event, the Umpire Crew Chief shall make a final decision based on the merits of the challenge.
    • The opening of the roof shall only begin between innings.
  • Chase Field requires that the roof is opened in two sets of 2-minute-and-15-second intervals, at the conclusion of one inning and the conclusion of the following inning. [1]

If the game starts with the roof open and it is closed during the game:

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Umpires: Ground Rules". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. "Wrigley Field Information – Facts & Ground Rules". cubs.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/High-cheese-comes-to-land-of-high-tea-Yanks-vs-14059130.php [ bare URL ][ dead link ]