No, You Can't Catch a Ball With Your Hat

Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham got away with an illegal play when he took off and used his hat to field Brewers batter Isaac Collins' fly ball to deep right-center, a rules infraction that should have resulted in a three-base award had the umpires spotted it.

Replays indicate that in the 9th inning of New York's 4-2 win over Milwaukee, Grisham deliberately took off his uniform cap and used it to help control a fair ball at the wall, which is against the rules, the penalty for which is a three-base award: "Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with their cap, mask or any part of their uniform detached from its proper place on their person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at their peril" (Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4)(B)).

The violation went uncalled, resulting in a double with Brewers baserunner R1 Joey Ortiz advancing from first to third base. Had the umpires called and enforced the violation and its penalty, Ortiz would have scored and batter-runner Collins would have been placed at third base.

Video as follows:

Catcher Casali's Detached Equipment Violation (SF-ARI)

When San Francisco's Curt Casali stopped a slowly rolling baseball by using his catcher's mask, HP Umpire Chris Guccione called "Time" and awarded Arizona runners an extra base on the Giants' violation of detached equipment rule 5.06(b)(3)(E), leading to a brief argument and bringing manager Gabe Kapler out of the dugout for an explanation.

Play: With two out and two on in the Diamondbacks' half of the second inning vs SF, Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto's first pitch to D-Backs batter Asdrubal Cabrera bounced in the dirt around home plate, where it was blocked by Giants catcher Casali. Upon blocking the ball, it continued slowly rolling away so Casali, from a crouched position, removed his catcher's mask and used it to stop and cover the baseball.

Call/Rule: Umpire Guccione awarded Arizona runners one base each, ruling a violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(3)(E), which states, "Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when...A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched."

Replays indicate Casali's action appeared to feature a deliberate use of detached equipment (the mask) to touch a pitched ball, meaning OBR 5.06(b)(3)(E) was applicable and each runner advanced a base as a result. Upon discussion with Giants Manager Gabe Kapler, after which followed consultation with the remainder of Chief Guccione's crew, the original ruling of detached equipment/pitched ball (one base award) prevailed.

Christian Vasquez's illegal touch in Boston.

Sidebar/Rules Myth: Despite social media or broadcast interference, this is NOT a "catcher's balk" nor does it have anything to do with the balk rule.

Related Rule: It should also be noted that pursuant to OBR 5.06(B)(4)(B), "each runner including the batter-runner may without liability to be out put, advance: Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril." For thrown balls, OBR 5.06(B)(4)(D) applies: "Two bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a thrown ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play."

In Sum: If a fielder deliberately touches a ball with detached equipment, the penalty is one base (if it was a pitched ball), two bases (if it was a thrown ball), or three bases (if it was a batted ball).

Video as follows: