Baseball rules corner: last season featured many interesting rule situations.

THE FOLLOWING RULES situations from the 2002 season captured my attention.

APRIL 24: Jay Payton of the Mets, like many of his peers, proved he is rulebook challenged. In a contest against the Cardinals, Payton was on first base in the second inning with one out, when Vance Wilson lofted a fly to right. Payton took off, but realized on rounding second that he had to get back to first, with Eli Marrero about to catch the ball. Payton retreated straight to first base without retouching second en route. The Cardinals appealed and Payton was called out.

Is it possible Payton didn't know the rule? "Before (that play) I would have thought that was impossible," said Mets' manager Bobby Valentine. "But it looked like (Payton) didn't understand why he was out."

MAY 18: Rule 6.08(b) came alive at Yankee Stadium where the Yankees hosted the Twins. In the top of the sixth inning, Minnesota third baseman Casey Blake was up with runners on first and second and two out. With two strikes, Blake was hit in the shin by a Ted Lilly pitch. Blake moved his bat and plate umpire Gary Darling ruled that he had offered at the pitch thus negating the hit-by-pitch. The ball got by Yankee catcher Alberto Castillo, but the play was ruled dead the moment Blake offered at the pitch and was hit. Lilly recorded a strikeout and the Yanks, who were winning, 2-1, at the time, went on to record a 6-2 victory.

JULY 1: In the Braves-Expos game, Javy Lopez hit a fly ball to the mound that Montreal pitcher Javier Vazquez dropped in an Infield Fly Rule situation. First baseman Andres Galarraga picked up the ball and threw to first base where Jose Vidro tagged the Atlanta runner who was off the bag.

July 6: Michael Tucker of the Royals hit a homer that turned into a single but Kansas City still beat the A's at Oakland, 4-3, in 10 innings. In the top of the 10th with the score tied 3-3, Tucker went deep with runners on first and third. But he passed Mike Caruso who had retreated toward first because he thought A's center fielder Terrence Long made a leaping catch of Tucker's drive over the fence in dead center. Tucker was ruled out but was credited with an RBI single, scoring the runner from third.

JULY 13: Rule buffs got a double whammy at Comerica Park where the Tigers hosted the White Sox. In the top of the eighth inning in the first game of a double header, Chicago had Ray Durham on third and Paul Konerko on first with one out when Jose Valentin hit a foul fly along the first base stands. The ball was caught by Tigers' first baseman Carlos Pena who fell into the seats Valentin was ruled out because Pena fell into dead territory. The runners both advanced one base allowing Durham to score on the play.