Sez who?

Don’t steal a base when the opposing team is winning by a big score
Don’t hit a batter in the head to retaliate for a team breaking an unwritten rule



I got interested in “unwritten rules” after reading the account of a Indians/Rays game where the Indians pitcher intentionally almost “beaned” a player. Apparently this player in a previous game had the audacity to steal two bases even though the Indians were ahead 9 to zip. This is a no-no. The player was not showing respect for the game. He broke an unwritten rule and deserved to be punished. The Indians pitcher was the executioner and meted out justice with a 96mph fast ball to the batters body. In defense of the pitcher he did not break another unwritten rule which declares that thou shall not hit a batter in the head.

This really makes a lot of nonsense. You're way behind , don’t try to score by stealing bases , you must do it the hard way - a hit at a time. If its a close game, steal bases to your hearts content. In addition to a designated hitter, in the future teams will be required to carry a designated lawyer on their staff whose sole job will be to interpret unwritten rules.

Unfortunately not all the players are familiar with these unwritten rules. They are not posted in the clubhouse.

If they were posted, they no longer would be unwritten rules. That would create chaos in the world of baseball. Everyone would have to play by the rules and that would make for a dull game.

What is perplexing is that even though the unwritten rules have not been posted in the clubhouse they are written (The Book of Unwritten Baseball Rules). What’s missing are the unwritten rules for dealing with those who break the written - unwritten rules.

By the way, it’s unclear as to who authors an unwritten rule. In reality  unwritten rules are merely hearsay. The only unwritten rule cast in concrete is - "Anything goes if you can get away with it". That’s what we have umpires for . Play ball!





( The Indians beat the Rays last night, 11 to 10, scoring seven runs in the last of the ninth. They played by the unwritten rules - no base stealing. For eight innings they misinterpreted the written rules. They thought they could win by not scoring runs. In the ninth they played by the unwritten rules - don't give up the ship, don't desert a sinking ship, damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead, a walk a day will keep the doctor away! )