# Please explain to me some of baseballs "unwritten rules" **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 21, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359 "2015-10-21T15:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/21 "2015-10-21T21:43:09Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Many of the unwritten rules mentioned in this thread exist only in the minds of a small handful of players. I think much of what’s been asserted here exists only in the minds of some fans. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/22 "2015-10-21T21:48:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That one will get you beaned if the pitcher or catcher picks it up. Wasn’t there an NCAA game not too long ago where the pitcher thought the on-deck batter was signalling signs, and beaned him - and I don’t mean “waited until he came to bat, then beaned him,” but intentionally threw at him while he was still in the on-deck circle? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/23 "2015-10-21T21:51:05Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Wasn’t there an NCAA game not too long ago where the pitcher thought the on-deck batter was signalling signs, and beaned him - and I don’t mean “waited until he came to bat, then beaned him,” but intentionally threw at him while he was still in the on-deck circle? Don’t know about that one, but I like the idea. I kind of recall some incident where a pitcher threw at the dugout. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/24 "2015-10-21T21:54:07Z")
IIRC Albert Pujols got some grief for standing at the plate too long watching one of his home runs. Maybe when he hit that one off Lidge in the 2005 NLCS. I know that standing there watching your own HR is considered poor form. But if I had hit that HR, I’d stand there admiring myself until the building cleared. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/25 "2015-10-21T21:59:39Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > This morning Mark Teixeira was on Mike & Mike and his take regarding Bautista’s bat flip was pretty good. To paraphrase: if it’s April and you’re up big, and you and you flip your bat like that, its a problem. If it’s late in the game in a playoff series deciding game, go ahead and have your fun. Of course Tex is right in terms of how the context of the moment is immensely important in how the gesture will be read. The only quibble I’d have is that I think the explanation as given here suggests that Bautista was “having fun” with it, like it was something he decided to do. I read it rather as a purely instinctive emotional release. If you’re not actually an asshole, leaving such gestures to spontaneous moments is a pretty good way to stay on the right side of the line. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/26 "2015-10-21T22:28:01Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I can’t write them! They’re unwritten! [Well, yes and no.](http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Codes-Beanballs-Bench-Clearing-Unwritten/dp/030727862X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1445466505&sr=8-2&keywords=unwritten+rules+of+baseball) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/27 "2015-10-21T23:06:46Z")
I think pitchers used to be nastier than they are now. There used to be guys like Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson and Early Wynn who would throw at batters with little provocation. Wynn was particularly bad - he once knocked down his fifteen-year-old son who had hit a couple of line drives off of him in batting practice. His explanation? “He was leaning in on me, and I had to show him who was boss.” I’m happy that this part of the game had faded away. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/28 "2015-10-22T02:25:23Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Wasn’t there an NCAA game not too long ago where the pitcher thought the on-deck batter was signalling signs, and beaned him - and I don’t mean “waited until he came to bat, then beaned him,” but intentionally threw at him while he was still in the on-deck circle? Wichita State’s Ben Christensen did it to U of Evansville Anthony Molina and blinded him in one eye. [Story here](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18208) ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/29 "2015-10-22T03:35:37Z")
The purpose of the unwritten rules is to give pitchers an excuse to hit people intentionally, because pitchers are assholes and violence is fun. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/30 "2015-10-22T13:32:39Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Wasn’t there an NCAA game not too long ago where the pitcher thought the on-deck batter was signalling signs, and beaned him - and I don’t mean “waited until he came to bat, then beaned him,” but intentionally threw at him while he was still in the on-deck circle? How does one steal signs from the on-deck circle? The catcher’s legs will be in your way. I don’t see a problem with throwing at guys who violate the etiquette of baseball. In general, don’t be a hotdog and don’t pad your stats or run up the score when the game is out of reach. You don’t have to retrace the baselines when going from third to first after a foul. Just keep your ass off the mound. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/31 "2015-10-22T14:31:20Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > The purpose of the unwritten rules is to give pitchers an excuse to hit people intentionally, because pitchers are assholes and violence is fun. Best explanation so far. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/32 "2015-10-22T21:45:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > How does one steal signs from the on-deck circle? The catcher’s legs will be in your way. Sometimes there are hand motions, and there’s the spot of the mitt that’s the target. I wonder if someone could signal fast enough to get across “down and away”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/33 "2015-10-22T23:14:50Z")
There is also the “unwritten rule,” if you want to call it that, of the “neighborhood out” in turning a double play. Whether it really exists or not seems to be a matter of some contention, but the basic idea is that a defenseman turning a double play is given a bit of leeway by some umpires in touching second base (so just needing to be “in the neighborhood”) when turning a double play, with the justification that it is to prevent injuries from the runner trying to take out the defenseman. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/34 "2015-10-22T23:35:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There is also the “unwritten rule,” if you want to call it that, of the “neighborhood out” in turning a double play. Whether it really exists or not seems to be a matter of some contention, but the basic idea is that a defenseman turning a double play is given a bit of leeway by some umpires in touching second base (so just needing to be “in the neighborhood”) when turning a double play, with the justification that it is to prevent injuries from the runner trying to take out the defenseman. There was a post season game not too long ago where the 2nd base ump called it by the written rules and the runner was safe. A lot of grumbling, but that’s the trouble with unwritten rules, they can be trumped by the real ones. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/35 "2015-10-23T02:00:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There was a post season game not too long ago where the 2nd base ump called it by the written rules and the runner was safe. A lot of grumbling, but that’s the trouble with unwritten rules, they can be trumped by the real ones. Well, there was the recent Mets-Dodgers game where that and interference came into play. I assume that’s what you’re talking about? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/36 "2015-10-23T02:39:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, there was the recent Mets-Dodgers game where that and interference came into play. I assume that’s what you’re talking about? No something several years ago. I think it was the Series, but I can’t place it with the teams. I’m sure there are plenty of post-season incidents like this as the umps get pickier about the details. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/37 "2015-10-23T02:58:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No something several years ago. I think it was the Series, but I can’t place it with the teams. I’m sure there are plenty of post-season incidents like this as the umps get pickier about the details. I remember [this one from 2013](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/10/questionable-call-helps-red-sox-in-alcs-game-5), in the ALCS, but it’s a counter-example, where the defenseman got the “neighborhood play.” (And that’s a particularly egregious example.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/38 "2015-10-23T11:37:12Z")
I have a feeling that the Chase Utley/Ruben Tejada play will change the neighborhood rule. I think the days of the runner trying to take out the fielder at all are over. Automatic out for interference. Along with that the fielder will have to touch the bag since there will be no runner trying to take out his legs. Whether it will be an official rule change or umps ordered to enforce the current rules more strictly, I believe it will happen during the winter meetings. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/39 "2015-10-23T13:15:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There is also the “unwritten rule,” if you want to call it that, of the “neighborhood out” in turning a double play. Whether it really exists or not seems to be a matter of some contention, but the basic idea is that a defenseman turning a double play is given a bit of leeway by some umpires in touching second base (so just needing to be “in the neighborhood”) when turning a double play, with the justification that it is to prevent injuries from the runner trying to take out the defenseman. Good example because while it’s not a written rule, it is so widely accepted that the neighborhood play is currently excluded from review. Among reviewable plays listed is this: _Force play (except the fielder’s touching of second base on a double play)_ That clearly is meant to preserve the neighborhood play, which I think is a good thing. And that’s part of why I had a huge problem with how the umpires handled the Utley play. Utley should have been out on the force, or out on the interference. Take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359/40 "2015-10-27T10:30:30Z")
After most sports victories players line up and shake each others hands. In the NFL the coaches even cross over to shake hands. I seldom see that in the MLB. Both teams just seem to just walk away. Why is that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-to-me-some-of-baseballs-unwritten-rules/735359.md?page=3)