Rule 12, Sec. 2, requires the Umpire to call for the putting in play of the substitute ball whenever the ball previously in play, is batted foul over the fence or the grand stands, "out of the sight of the players." Also in case the ball in play becomes "unfit for fair use," as to which the Umpire is the sole judge.
A new ball can only be called for in case neither of the two balls in use are legally available for service.
THE NEW RULE FOR PITCHERS.
The amended rule governing the delivery of the ball by the pitcher—Rule 18 of the new code—has had the words "his left foot in front of the right, and to the left of an imaginary line from his right foot to the center of the home base" eliminated from it, and in consequence the pitcher is not now required to abide by that portion of the rule, which governed his movements in 1888. The pitcher's position, when he prepares to deliver the ball to the bat, must be that in which he stands with both feet squarely on the ground, and with one foot—left or right—placed on the rear line of his position. While thus standing ready to deliver the ball, he must hold it before him in full sight of the Umpire. The words "in the act of delivering the ball" refer to the very last motion in delivery, and in making this motion the rear foot is of necessity placed on the ground, as it is from this standpoint that the power to give the last impetus to the ball in delivery is derived. Consequently the foot cannot be lifted from the ground entirely until the ball leaves his hand. In making his regular motions to deliver while he is prohibited from lifting the entire foot in the rear line from the ground, he is not debarred from lifting the heel of the foot an inch or so. In making the preliminary movements, too, he cannot take but one forward step, though he can make this single step in any way he chooses, provided it be a regular and habitual motion of his delivery.
FEIGNING TO THROW TO A BASE.
When the pitcher feigns to throw to a base prior to delivering the ball to the bat, in every such instance after making the feint to throw, he must resume his original position, "facing the batsman," and "holding the ball fairly in front of his body," and "momentarily pause before delivering the ball to the bat." If he makes a feint to throw and then delivers the ball with one apparent motion, without pausing to stand, he commits a balk.
THE ORDER OF BATTING.
Rule 19 says that "Batsmen must take their position at the bat in the order in which they are named on the score." This score is not sufficiently defined in the rule, but it means the printed or written order of batting, which each captain of the contesting team presents to the umpire prior to the commencement of the game; and such order, on approval of the umpire, should be copied verbatim in the score book of the official scorer of the home club, who alone is authorized to send a copy of the score of the game, as the official copy, to the secretary of the League or Association the club belongs to.
After the order of batting has been submitted to the umpire, it becomes the official order, and after being thus indorsed it cannot be changed except in the case of a substitute player taking the place either of a disabled player, or that of a removed player—under the new rule—and in such case the incoming substitute player takes the place in the order of batting of the disabled or removed player.