Article:So, you think you know Baseball?

Things have been a little slow on the Chair recently, probably because of the let-down with March Madness ending and waiting for the NHL and NBA playoffs to begin. That said, however, it is baseball season, so why not have a little different article to read through, and hopefully have some fun at the same time.

1) Carl Crawford smokes one into the right-field corner, as he turns the corner heading for second and has to make a quick move to avoid first baseman Carlos Guillen. Rightfielder Gary Sheffield, meantime, fields the ball cleanly and fires in to Edgar Renteria covering second, who slaps the tag on Crawford, who is called out. Manager Joe Maddon storms out of the dugout, arguing Guillen broke a rule. Which rule is Maddon claiming was violated?


 * a)blocking *b)interference *c)obstruction *d)charging

2) Ichiro Suzuki drops a bunt and is running down to first base, clearly in fair territory, outside the 45 running lane. Kurt Suzuki, the catcher, picks up the bunt and throws to first, grazing Ichiro's shirt before Jack Cust catches the ball, just beating Ichiro to the bag. Seeing the play would be close, Mike Morse, on third, breaks for home, where he beats Cust's throw home to score. Ruling?


 * a)Ichiro is called out for interference, Morse's run counts; *b)Ichiro is out because the throw beat him to the bag, Morse scores; *c)The play is blown dead as soon as the ball hits Ichiro, who is immediately called out for interference, Morse returns to third.

3) Mark Teixeira dives to his right to field a ground ball, John Smoltz races over to cover first base. Teixeira's throw is a bit behind Smoltz, who falls backwards as the ball skips past him into foul territory, with his legs and feet covering the bag in the process. Troy Tulowitzki, stretches to touch the bag, and steps on Smoltz' left thigh instead. Catcher Brian McCann, backing up the play, retrieves the ball and tags Tulowitzki, who is called out for failing to touch first base. Manager Clint Hurdle argues that Smoltz' leg is part of the bag, and Tulowitzki should be safe.


 * True or *False

4) Manny Ramirez hits a bullet back towards the mound, where the ball strikes the pitching rubber and bounds into the first base dugout on the fly. Ramirez ends up on second base. Umpire Jerry Crawford calls Ramirez' hit a foul ball and sends Manny back to the plate. First base coach DeMarlo Haleargues since the ball contacted the mound it is a fair ball, and Ramirez correctly went to second because the ball left the field of play. Who is right?


 * a)Crawford *b)Hale *c)Neither. Since the ball left the field of play, the correct call is a dead ball.

5) Tadahito Iguchi on first, Adrian Gonzalez rips a line shot down the line where Albert Pujols makes a spectacular diving stop, trapping the ball. Iguchi, believing Pujols caught the ball cleanly, returns to first base. Pujols tags the bag, retiring Gonzalez, then tags Iguchi. Ruling?


 * a)Both runners were forced to advance during the play, so both are out *b)By touching the bag first, Pujols essentially removed the force on Iguchi at second, which then gives Iguchi rightful possession of the base, so he is ruled safe. *c)Gonzalez is out on the play at first, Iguchi is ruled out for interference for confusing Pujols by running towards the wrong base.

6) Pat Burrell hits a high, deep drive towards the left field corner. Adam Dunn overruns the ball, touching the ball in fair territory while he is in foul territory. The ball deflects off Dunn's glove and ends up in the stands in foul territory. Ruling?


 * a)Home run. The ball was fair, once Dunn touched the ball it doesn't matter that it landed in the stands in foul territory. *b)Foul ball. Dunn was in foul territory when he touched the ball, and the ball ended up in foul territory. *c)Ground rule double, the ball was fair, bouncing into the stands off a fielder's glove is the same as bouncing in off the ground.

7) Chris Young on third, one out. Justin Upton swings, clipping Russell Martin's glove in the process, and hits a deep drive to center, Andruw Jones makes the catch, with Young tagging up and scoring. Umpire Angel Hernandez signals catcher's interference. Ruling?


 * a) The ball is immediately dead on the catcher's interference, Upton is awarded first base and Young is sent back to third. *b)Jones catching the fly ball negates the interference, so the play stands as it is. *c)Hernandez summons Manager Bob Melvin from the dugout and gives him the choice, of either A or B. *d)Upton is awarded first on the interference, and because he hit the ball, he has created a second, seperate play, allowing Young's run to count.

I'll post the answers, or give props to those who got some right, tomorrow morning around 9-10 Pacific Time, this way the "day shift", or the Easterners, have a shot at it. I'll give a hint if you need it, but do so on my message board, if I answer you in a comment it may give someone else the answer.