Major League baseball question

Question

Other than the catcher who sets up behind the plate in foul territory, do the other seven fielding position players have to stand in fair territory while the pitcher is on the rubber, or releasing the ball to homeplate? Example: the first/third baseman holding a runner on the bag. Or as happens with an overshift on dead pull hitters, maybe the left/right fielder, at or on the foul line. You may ask, why would either the left/right fielder even want to do this? Just want to know if the major league rules probihit standing in foul territory while the ball is in play. Thanks.

Answer 1

By the rules, except the catcher, all players must begin the play entirely in fair ground.  

Keith Hernandez, in his Met years, would sometimes abuse this rule while holding a runner on.  As the pitcher would begin his wind-up keith would move so that he was legal by the time the play started.  Was it a legal positioning?  I don't think so, but sometimes the umpires will givw a little latitude to te best fielding players.

Answer 2

they have to stand in fair territory. they could stand behind the base but not in foul territory

Answer 3

Yes it is permitted.

At one of my baseball games we used a tactic like this to hurt a serious pull hitter, he kept hitting pops in foul grounds, and he was lefty so we moved our right fielder to foul grounds, the center to right and the left fielder to center. The other coach was so baffled, but it didn't pay of because the kid hit a little bloop over third base for a home run.

This will hardly, if ever, be seen in the M.L.B. because of the stands but in open fields, like our baseball team, it is sometimes seen.

Answer 4

They can only go in foul territory after the ball is in play.

Answer 5

You must be using a different rule book, chano.

It's not permitted at any level.

Answer 6

when a first basemen is holding a runner on, they do have to have both feet in play. i know this cause i play first base

since the first basemen have to keep their feet in play, im going to take a guess and say that besides the catchers, the other 8 players must be in between the lines

as for the shift on a pull hitter, ive never seen an outfielder be closer than 15-20 feet to the foul line, but i dont think if they wanted to they could start outside the line. theres no point in having a right fielder be on the line for a dead pull lefty hitter. i could see the first basemen having one foot on the line on a dead pull hitter, but not with a foot outside.

Answer 7

Yes, it is permitted. If a ball is put in play sometimes a fielder may elect to back up a base, such as the pitcher backing up a play at the plate.  

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

Rule 4.03: When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.

(a) The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.

PENALTY: Balk.

Answer 10

They can only go into foul territory after the ball is in play, otherwise, they must stand in fair territory.

Answer 11

No, all players must stand in fair territory.