Baseball Rules Corner.(unusual plays during 2000 season)

Here's a review of some odd plays during 2000 season

IT'S TIME FOR MY ANNUAL SEASON review of eye-opening situations that not only affect the playing rules but are also entertaining and informative.

MARCH 10: In an exhibition game at Fort Myers, Florida between the Red Sox and Twins, Minnesota's Marcus Jensen and David Ortiz hit consecutive home runs in the fourth inning to lead the Twins to a 5-2 win. Boston manager Jimy Williams was ejected after arguing that Jensen's home run down the right field line off Dario Perez was foul. That meant Williams wasn't around to see his 20-year-old son, Brady, lead off the eighth inning by striking out.

MARCH 29: The Mets and Cubs kicked off the season in Tokyo, Japan when a case of "Two Jeffs" caused Mets' manager Bobby Valentine to protest the game. With one strike to go in the game, Valentine argued that Cubs' defensive replacement Jeff Huson was not listed on the lineup card. It turned out that Jeff Reed was listed twice and Huson was mistakenly left off.

Following the game, Valentine said he was dropping the protest even though the Cubs won the contest 5-3. Valentine stated, "I really did not want to do that (protest) but if, in fact, they were playing with 26 men, we had to file a protest."

APRIL 3: The Reds and Brewers played the first Opening Day tie since April 12, 1965 when the Cards-Cubs game at Wrigley Field was called because of darkness after 11 innings with the score tied 10-10. After a three hour delay, the Reds-Brewers game was called because of rain.

APRIL 15: Whenever a fielder crosses over the barrier and extends his glove into the stands whether it be fair or foul territory, he is open game and it's anybody's ball (fan or player). Just ask Barry Bonds who had a potentially great catch stolen from him by an exuberant fan in the fourth inning of a game against the Diamondbacks.