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So, second base will be 6 inches closer to the others and a little over 3 inches closer to home base. Who will have the advantage, the BR trying to steal the base or the F2 with the shorter throws?

I will say no. The label 90 feet is in a red/brown color and is on the outside of the diamond. Plus, it looks like same color as the baseline.

Yes, a common question here but we don't expect newcomers to use the search function. Right out of the OBR, MLB's rulebook: "5.08 Comment .......................................APPROVED RULING: One out, Jones on third, Smith on first, and Brown flies out to right field. Two outs. Jones tags up and scores after the catch. Smith attempted to return to first but the right fielder’s throw beat him to the base. Three outs. But Jones scored before the throw to catch Smith reached first base, hence Jones’ run counts. It was not a force play." It's what we call a "time play".

Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Fly ball hit to the outfield as the runner breaks from 1st in an attempt to steal 2nd. Ball is caught and the throw goes to 1st, trying to double up the runner. In the process, the runner from 3rd tags up legally and touches home plate before the runner is doubled off at first. Does the run count?

1b and 3B used to be centered on the 90' base path. They moved into the infield but 2B wasn't moved. But don't get used to it in OBR. It's moved/moving to back edge alignment in the International League second half of this year as a test. https://www.mlb.com/news/new-rule-changes-coming-to-minor-leagues-in-2026 Since I already put my foot in mouth once today I'll ask instead of stating fact... Putting aside the arrows above start at the edge and not PoP of HP, am I wrong in seeing the above improperly shows 90' to front of the base when it's actually 90' from PoP to the back of the base?

Anyone have the research as to why the three 'outside' bases use the edges of the base where as the center of second base that is used?

NCAA wouldn't like it but MLB doesn't seem to care where the stutter step goes. It gives no advantage.

Separately, is there an issue that from windup with runners on his step was forward*? (1) The Windup Position The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot. * This is his norm with no runners on. This was the first time all year he pitched from the windup with R3 only or bases loaded.

Maybe. I see Barksdale saying "oh, you're doing windup? Ok. Cool. Next pitch." from behind plate. Then 3B coach making noise that interrupted the game which prompts the crew to get together and subsequently declare a balk.

The base points would still be used. Corner bases with corner on point. 2B centered on point. Yeah, I knew you'd get me on that

I don't think they didn't want to call it. They obviously agreed there was a stutter step when they got together. They just weren't focused on the sit and a pitcher's delivery which has you pay close attention to.

The base points would still be used. Corner bases with corner on point. 2B centered on point.

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂 To add: baseball is bad a geometry anyway. Exhibit #1 - home plate.

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂

I'm not great with geometry...but I feel like all of the bases would need to be bigger. Yes?

I can see how/why you’re reading it this way; instead, I’m reading it from a different way, wherein the (permanent) presence of 18” bases – including 1B – does not disqualify a venue (field) and prohibit (or prevent) a game from commencing. You just know there are strict NFHS Apologists (as umpires) who will take the strict letter-of-the-law to its full degree, and will not let a game start – or worse, will forfeit it – if a double-base isn’t installed / installable at 1B. By including this optional provision, and codifying it, this allows High Schools to use neutral-site, professional or contractual venues without burdening… resources… to accommodate this new HS rule. All that is how it should be. Hopefully they update 1-2-9 appropriately to allow 18" bases at 2B/3B.

Play in question. I read this is "Yeah, I saw him do it. Don't want to call it since it's ticky tack but now that the Offense called it out I have to call it." Like a slight F1 shoulder turn after set in a 12U game. That the pitch then got counted (as a strike) and not wiped off, only to then have it turn into an a K, and have to be unwound is where the real issue and EJ came from. Balk Undclared Coach Called it out SF vs Colorado 2026.07.11.mov

And more exposed to rolling ankles when you hit raised (or mountainous) grass-dirt lips. I used to wear flat soles shoes exclusively off field. Got away from it with back/hip issues (that they probably had nothing to do with) but am now getting back to them now as my year winds down.

goodness gracious, double bounce effect, sprains/strains/sore joints, you are getting decrepit/aged/elderly/ancient/etc now. u didn't worry about that stuff at a certain phase in life. pretty soon comes the dinosaur or the i'm not as good as i "once" was, but "once", i'm as good as i ever was, phase. what about that old Vann's pair i have heard mentioned before.

since it is that former dirt ball D1 coach to the D1 guys every year and that was a PITA to the D1 guys, i think requesting a crew review for a balk and getting one (just like a, did the ball hit his hands or foot on a pitch, or did the ball off the bat hit off the player's foot crew review situation) was a neat idea. he got his answer and then used his cheap shot on an umpire walking away (and where does that line always come in - umpire walking away, just like player walking away). ejection could not happen to a nicer dirt ball guy.

I favor Brooks Glycerin 22's, use Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7's (trail shoes) on "deep grass / traction needed" fields, and still have New Balance VAADUs just for wet games. I'm on the verge of getting Brooks Cascades (again, trail shoes) and something else from Brooks that are... flatter... so I can wear them without strain on turf. The Brooks Glycerin, like Hokas or New Balance 1### shoes, are so plump and plush, they can create an untrue, double-bounce effect on your legs, potentially causing sprains, strains, and sore joints.

I do personally think most of these could be left up to state associations to adopt or not depending on what works where they are. For example, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana don't have sanctioned High School Baseball. South Dakota has had High School Club baseball, but it's not sanctioned and is just a preseason to the American Legion season. American Legion is the much more popular baseball. It uses mostly OBR, with a few things that they haven't adopted, (expanded runners lane, bigger bases, coaches mound visits). They do already have delayed dead ball balks. So when the High School season starts, we have many more people that get confused as to what happens when a balk occurs and a pitch is thrown or it's on a pickoff than not. (Yes, it's simple to all of us/you that have worked a ton of games. But, the boomer whose been doing American Legion for 20 years, watches the MLB on tv 7 nights a week, and now has some High School games, it's harder to grasp.) I just think that so long as states aren't playing high school games against each other, most of these liberal rules can be left up to state associations.

But still on the release. Correct?

Nobody has replied to my challenge to show me a sideways pitcher who you could not tell if he was going to windup or pitch from set. I found one. Mahle. But it's not a pretty story. SG - CR Saturday 7/11, T3, R3. Mahle F1 is the pitcher who even I can't tell if he is going to windup or set but his windup is a miniscule free foot stutter step to HP. He delivers like that for a swinging strike and 3B coach asks why wasn't that a balk, he didn't declare. Umps get together and balk it. Looks like a crew I don't recognize except for PU but you gotta focus on the little things a pitcher does. Calling the balk after the 3B coach asks does not look good. 3B coaches are looking for tells to send R3s and umps should be looking for those also. So score the run and let everybody know that was a no pitch. Didn't happen. PU called a second strike which had two fingers and called batter out after third strike. Somebody asked and batter went back with 2 strikes. Ejection followed. 👍 🙂 😀 💯 😄

Here's a perfect example of calling for common-sense umpiring. Call the strike, call "time" and have a short conversation with the coach about him calling "time." The first question would be, "What was that all about?" I would then politely warn him that he would be restricted to the dugout if it happens again. Since there was no advantage gained since the pitch was called a strike and nothing else happened, I believe just warning the coach would be the best route.