Ground rule double?
Question
What is a layman's definition for the ground-rule double? When does it apply? How has it affected the game after it was added?
Answer
John,
A ground rule double is just what it says. When the ground rules for the stadium say a struck ball should be scored a certain way, then the hit is a double regardless of how it is played by the fielder.
One example is that in certain domed stadiums, if a ball hits the roof, it is considered a double. That is the ground rule in the stadium. However, other domed stadiums may call a ball that hits the roof in play. It depends on the ground rules in effect in that stadium.
Often, the term is used to describe a ball that bounces once and then goes into the stands. However, that isn't really a ground rule double, because that rule is the same throughout all stadiums in baseball.
Hope this helps!
Brian
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