I was listening to a college game the other day and they were reviewing a play at third. The announcers were talking about how close the play was and then they asked the question. If he had these new extended glove laces and one of them hit the runner would it be an out? I have never thought about this and wondered are laces considered part of the glove? If so, then the runner would be out. If the extended laces are not part of the glove, then he is safe.
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I would assume so. If a ball hits a batter's jersey but not his body it's still a HBP. Saw a kid with half his jersey undone get two more buttons ripped off after an 85 mph FB got caught in his jersey.
If an umpire has eyes good enough to say that the laces touched the batter....and is willing to stand by that then he's out. In a game that has replay, I'd have to think that if the laces touched the batter, he'd be ruled out. It's simple....don't allow the laces to be 6-8" long and hanging off the glove and this is never an issue....hard to believe that it's not been addressed
I've never put thought into it and never had it as an umpire but it got me thinking. If that is the ruling, then players should have 12-18" laces and use them as an extension of the glove. Without clarification, I would rule it that the glove has to touch the player not the laces.
Not exactly laces but I see more and more players put on sliding gloves after they get on base. Basically an oversized mitten. Son wears on one hand and just be coincidental that is the extended hand to hit the base on head first slides. He also acknowledges it adds 3-4 inches to hit the base, every little bit helps! Guess use whatever is legal until they ban it.
Son uses the oven mitt. Yes, it's a hair longer. Also protects him from getting stepped on and hands ripped to shreds, like happened to him as a HS Junior. Kept him out 3 weeks.
It actually would not count as a tag. I found this article on the MLB changing this rule a few years ago.
So it is a rule in MLB, what about NCAA and NFHS? Can't find anything that verifies it.
Depends on how you read the wording in 8-4-2(h) "touched by a live ball securely held by a fielder or is touched by a fielder's glove or hand with the live ball held therein". Note no wording about laces of the glove. Then go to 1-3-6 to get the definition of a glove. You'll note a glove description does not include laces and has some width, height, and webbing requirements. The second question you ask yourself is, is the glove with super long laces a legal glove. If not, then be sure to grab the proper end of the sh* stick when the coach comes out to talk to you !
As for the hand protector for base runners - I will not be surprised to see that mentioned in rules or the case book next year.... Something to the effect of size restrictions. All it takes is for one game to be decided by something like that and someone pushes to get a ruling...
