Baseball rules corner: rules protect middle infielder trying to launch double play.

PLAYERS NORMALLY VIEW THE rulebook as a document to reprimand or penalize. Just the basic sound of the word "rule" has a cold, prickly connotation. Yet, if used properly, the rulebook can be more friendly than unfriendly.

A keen knowledge of baseball's playing code can actually serve as an extra player to assist teams in winning games. Conversely, ignorance of the rules can come back to haunt a team.

A case in point is what happened in the Tigers-Royals game played at Kansas City on May 25. Trailing 4-3 in the top of the ninth inning, Detroit had Carlos Guillen on first and Alex Sanchez on third with one out when "Pudge" Rodriguez tapped a slow roller to Royals' shortstop Angel Berroa that should have scored Sanchez from third.

The only play Berroa had was to second base. There was little or no chance of doubling-up Rodriguez although a tardy throw was made to first by Royals' second baseman Desi Relaford after receiving the throw from Berroa. It appeared that the Tigers had tied the game.

But wait. Guillen, who was running like a wild racehorse, slid past the bag and made a rolling block to hinder Relaford's throw to first to keep the Tigers out of the double play.

At that point, second base umpire C.B. Bucknor also ruled Rodriguez out because of the illegal actions of Guillen.

Bucknor enforced rule 6.05 (m) that reads, "A batter is out when a preceding runner shall, in the umpire's judgment, intentionally interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play." The situation is also covered under 7.09 (g). The rule empowers umpires to create an "extra" out on the play.