When Does the Coach Get a Choice?


 
With a runner (R3) on 3rd base and no outs, the batter (B1) hits a blooper to short left field. The ball drops safety into left field. B1 is safe at first base but R3 did not advance to home (because R3 was worried that the blooper would be caught in short left field).
 
What is the penalty for each of the situations (a) thru (h) below? Would a coach get the option of taking either the result of the play (R3 on 3rd and B1 on 1st) or taking the penalty?
 
a. The pitcher balked, but he threw the pitch anyway --  which B1 hit for the blooper single to left.
b. Right after the blooper single, the catcher points out that B1 used an illegal bat.
c. As B1 swung and hit the blooper single to left, B1 tipped the catcher's glove with his bat
d. The left fielder threw his glove at B1's blooper single (and missed the ball) in an attempt to stop the ball form getting by him.
e. The left fielder threw his glove at B1's blooper single (and hit the ball) so that the ball would not skip past him.
f. Right after the blooper single, it is determined that the left fielder used an illegal glove.
g. Right after the blooper single, it is determined that the left fielder is an unannounced substitute player.
h. Right after the blooper single, it is determined that the left fielder is an illegal player.
 
Call
a. NF Only: The ball was dead at the time of the balk. (NF 5-1-1k) The coaches do not get a choice. R3 scores and B1 stays at the plate. (NF 6-1-3PEN, 8-3-1a)
 
b. NF Only: When an illegal bat is used, the defensive coach can take the result of the play (R3 at 3rd and B1 at 1st) or he will likely take the penalty (R3 at 3rd and B1 out). NF 7-4-1a
 
c. The offensive coach gets a choice of the play or penalty, but since the result is the same in both case, it doesn't matter in this case (NF 8-1-1e and 8-3-1c)
 
d. Since the left fielder did not hit the ball with his glove, there is no penalty and there is no choice in this case.
 
e and f. Using an illegal glove or throwing your glove at a batted ball (and striking it) brings big penalties. The B1 and R3 are awarded three bases from where they were at the time of the infraction-- so R3 scores and B1 is placed at 3rd. (NF 8-3-3b)
 
 
g. There is no penalty for an unreported legal substitute handling a live ball.
 
h. The offense has a choice of taking the result of the play (R3 at 3rd base and B1 at first) or having B1 bat again. (NF 3-1-1)