Book Description

“Referee Magazine” called “Baseball Rule Differences” an essential reference for any umpire working with more than one rulebook. It began in 1982 as a 40-page mimeographed document. Today, it's over 400 pages, containing 537 rule sections, 272 plays, 371 official interpretations, 58 authoritative opinion boxes, 1335 cross-references, and nearly 2500 rule citations.You know this book, of course, by its nickname: The BRD.Inside you'll find a complete discussion of all rule differences among the various codes: National Federation (high school), the NCAA and NAIA, and the Official Baseball Rules, used in professional baseball and serving as the basis for most youth baseball.All changes from the 2009 edition, published by Officiating.com, are clearly marked, including “changed rules,” editorial revisions, added notes, revised and expanded case rulings. In the two years since the last edition, baseball rules committees have made more significant changes than in any previous two-year period. If you don't own the 2011 BRD, you will face a daunting task as you try to harmonize play situations in the games you work.Over the years, readers have marveled at the help provided by the alphabetical index. It's 43 pages devoted to every subject, no matter how small, included in the book. Additionally, there's a rule citation index which is invaluable in finding a specific rule. Grab a rulebook, pick a rule, note its citation (7.09a, for example), then check to see if it's explained in the BRD. The index contains 2373 such citations.The author, over the years, has had generous help from rule interpreters and those with authoritative opinions. You find the comments of Mike Fitzpatrick from PBUC, Jim Evans of the Annotated Rules, Rick Roder of the Jaksa/Roder Manual, Kyle McNeeley, chairman of the NFHS rules committee, Joe Paronto, editor of the NCAA book, and many others too numerous to mention here.Here's a sample of a rule change for the 2011 season:48 BATTER: BATTER'S BOX: STEPS: ON PLATE / OUTSIDE BOX: HITS FAIR OR FOUL OR FOUL TIPFED: The batter is out and the ball is dead if he hits fair or foul while (changed - 10) either foot or knee “is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box or touching home plate.” (7-3-2; 7-3-2 Pen) Last edition: No provision for being out while the knee is on the plate and the pitch is hit.56. ALSO: OFF INTERP 51-48: HOPKINS: If the batter hits a foul tip while touching the plate or outside the lines of the batter's box: The ball is dead and the batter is out. (Website, 2003, #2)NCAA: The batter is out if he hits fair or foul while touching the plate or with one foot on the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box. (7-10a; 7-10a Pen)57. ALSO: If the batter hits a “foul tip” while not “within the lines of the batter's box,” it is not a foul tip but a foul ball. He is out. (7-8) (See sect. 73.)OBR: If the batter hits fair or foul with one foot on the ground completely outside the batter's box: Same as FED / NCAA. (6.06a) If the batter steps on the plate and hits fair or foul: Point not covered.OFF INTERP 52-48: FITZPATRICK: Unless the batter's foot is completely outside the lines of the box when he steps on the plate, he is not out when he hits the pitched ball fair or foul. (email to cc, 11/15/00) (See sect. 83.)58. ALSO: OFF INTERP 53-48: PBUC MANUAL: The batter is out if he hits a foul tip with one foot completely outside the batter's box. {3.17}Play 46-48: B1 is in the front of the batter's box to hit the curve before it breaks. He takes a mighty swing and foul tips the pitch, which the catcher catches. The umpire notices the batter has one foot on the ground outside the batter's box. Ruling: In FED, the batter is out. [Website interpretation] In NCAA, the batter is out [black-letter law]. In OBR, the batter is out. [PBUC interpretation]The author guarantees you'll get your money's worth!