Why do we have different rules for the AL and NL.  And why the DH spot?
364632
The 2 diferent leagues came from being rivals in the late 1800's/early 1900's.\n\nThe National League is considered the "senior circuit"\n\nThe DH was supposed to be a one year experiment in 1973 (to boost offense), and they decided to keep it. It was the AL's way of trying to get more people interested.\n\nI would love to see an end to the DH, but the players union has gotten too big for it's britches, and probably won't happen.\n\nIn my opinion, the DH taints baseball and keeps old players around that should have retired years ago.
865125
I'd have to say it's easier for a hitter to switch from the NL to the AL because in the AL there is a designated hitter. This gives more power to the lineup and puts less pressure on the hitter to produce. In the NL you only have 8 legitimate bats in the lineup if it is a better team but in the AL you could have 9. This puts less pressure on the hitter to produce and makes the switch easier. If you switch to the NL and you are a designated hitter you will also have to play the field and there are less bats in the lineup.
626694
There really are no standardized rules for the pitching machine. They are local adaptations of established rules.\n\nMost would have the ball become dead, batter is awarded first base, and all runners advance one base(although some advance the runners only if forced).
644009
The O's DH, Javy Lopez, is now on the DL and they needed someone to fill  his slot.\n\nSince no one is really doing their intended job of hitting, they just stuck Millar in the role because we have an over adundance of 1st baseman and, frankly, that's where he fits at the moment.
1067649
It's a double header make up for yesterday. They might postpone one, but not both. It would be almost impossible to make up 2 interleague games.
464883
AL is the better league because it is the most competitive.  All 3 divisions in the AL will be competitive while you look in the NL where the West is up for grabs and probably St.Louis and NY Mets will win their divisions.  In the AL there is more than a couple of teams in each division who can beat you and probably the divisions won't be decided until the final weeks of the season
342400
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp
547889
Basically, it's to prevent unfair play by the infielders.  Without the rule, an infielder could intentionally allow the ball to hit the ground, requiring the runner(s) on base to move forward.  It would then be easy to get a double play.
687504
Baseball around the world is played under three major rules codes, which differ only slightly. The North American professional leagues and many amateur leagues use the Official Baseball Rules, which are published to the public by The Sporting News; U.S. collegiate and college-age play is often covered by the baseball rulebook of the NCAA; and U.S. high school and high school-age baseball is governed by the NFHS rules. IBAF international teams, most leagues outside North America, and youth baseball organizations such as Little League, PONY League, and Cal Ripken League all play under slightly modified versions of the Official Baseball Rules.\n\nUnlike many other sports, the Official Baseball Rules have remained largely static during the modernization of the game. This is evidenced in much esoteric or awkward language in the rulebook; also, rules experts such as Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder have identified over 50 outright errors in the book, mostly concerning rare or subtle differences. Many baseball players, fans, and administrators view the rules and traditions of professional baseball as time-tested and nearly sacrosanct. The designated hitter rule, first introduced to play over 30 years ago in 1973, is still subject to lively debate and has been adopted by only one of the two American major leagues—though almost all other leagues around the world have adopted it. In fact, NFHS rules allow the designated hitter to bat for any position. In contrast to the Official Baseball Rules, the NFHS is continually refining and updating its rule book to meet the needs of the United States high school game. The NCAA updates its rulebook less often the NFHS, but still more current.\n\nIn Japan, if a regular-season game is tied after nine innings, only three extra innings may be played. The accepted codes of etiquette also differ in Japanese baseball, though these are not written in official rules.\n\nOther major differences often center around additional safety rules. Most amateur leagues prohibit malicious contact by runners, are stricter on interference calls, and require double-earflap helmets.\n\nFor an overview of the rules themselves, see Main article: baseball, the baseball rules category below, or each individual rule book
1147715
FYI - Stealing first (from second) is against the rules.  But that wasn't always the case.  I believe it was a game in the 30's where this rule came about.\n\nDetroit had runners on the corners and the double steal on.  The runner on first took off, but the catcher didn't make a throw and awarded second unchallenged.  Obviously the runner on third stayed put.  On the very next pitch the runner on second broke for FIRST BASE.  The catcher didn't know what to do, threw to second base, the second baseman tagged the bag, the runner on third ran home, the second baseman ran over to first and tagged the runner, and everyone scratched their heads to figure out what just happened.  \n\nUntil that moment there was no rule against going backward for no good reason.  As long as you don't cross paths with the runner behind you, it's not against the rules.  Also there is precendence for tagging one base and then running backward, like what you would do in the event of a fly ball caught on the fly after you already made it to the next base.  \n\nThe umpire on the spot made the ruling.  The runner on first was ruled out because he was tagged while standing on a base he wasn't allowed to occupy.  The runner on third was awarded home because no one tagged him.  The next day MLB rule book made a rule supporting the umpires actions.  After that day in the 30's it is against the rules to steal first base.  Any base, once tagged, cannot be returned to again if the runner has been awarded the next base in sequence.  \n\nThis covers fly balls since the runner is not awarded the next base until the ball hits the ground.\n\nSo going back from second wouldn't count anyway.
759675
It's up to the umpire. Usually the runner is "safe" unless the ball was clearly on base before the runner. Any doubts means the runner gets the benefit of the doubt. \nCan't give you the rule- as it is now well over 10 years since I called a game
479866
A designated hitter (often shortened to "DH"), is an official position adopted by Major League Baseball's American League in 1973 that allowed teams to boost sagging offensive performances by designating a player to bat in place of the pitcher. It should be noted that no team is required to use a DH.\n\nThe designated hitter may not play a field position and he may only be replaced by another player not currently in the lineup. However, the designated hitter may change positions to become a position player at any point during the game. However, if he does so, his team forfeits the role of the designated hitter. Thus, the pitcher or a pinch hitter must bat in the newly-opened spot in the batting order.\n\nThe rationale was that, with a few exceptions, pitchers are usually weak hitters. Babe Ruth was an outstanding all-around player; a prolific hitter who had begun his career as an equally prolific pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, and soon began playing in the field on days he did not pitch. However, Ruth was eventually made a full-time outfielder during his first year as a member of the New York Yankees, 1920, and pitched very sporadically afterward.\n\nOn April 6, 1973, first baseman Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, facing Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Luis Tiant in his first plate appearance. "Boomer" Blomberg was walked.\n\nStrategically, the designated hitter offers American League managers two primary options: they can either rotate the role among players, using left-handed hitting DHs against right-handed pitchers and vice-versa, or they can employ a full-time designated hitter. The adoption of the designated hitter rule has virtually eliminated the use of the double switch in the American League.\n\nOn June 12, 1997, San Francisco Giants outfielder Glenallen Hill became the first National League player to be the DH in a regular-season game against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington, Texas (now Ameriquest Field in Arlington). When the Milwaukee Brewers moved from the AL to the NL in 1998, the Brewers no longer used the DH on a regular basis.
184219
If I remember correctly from my umpiring days, if a defensive player throws any part of his equipment at a batted ball and it makes contact, the batter and runners are awarded 3 bases, (It's the only 3 base award, and the most  severe) but the ball is still alive, and the batter can try to take home on his own if he/she wishes.  It doesn't matter on the park or the league, it is not an individual ground rule.\n\nFrom the baseball rule book:\n\n7.05\nEach runner including the batter runner may, without liability to be put out, advance...(b) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril;  c) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches a fair ball. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril.
791193
Yeah...and you better not ever have multi-position eligible players in your fantasy baseball games either.   This is just irritating!  \n\nGeez...I cannot believe managers are actually upset about this.  I don't have Colston on my team...and it does not bother me a bit.  Now youi are threatening a boycott?  OMG!  Yeah...that will hurt Yahoo's feelings.
1142957
http://www.mlb.com/rules
1133175
It's not mandatory to have a DH... in the olden days, some managers (after their teams clinched the division title) would sometimes have their pitchers bat late in the season in order to give them a few at bats, in case the team got to the World Series (in which case the pitcher would have to hit in some games).\n\nTwo things to keep in mind about the DH...\n\n1) If a manager elects not to start a game with a DH (but instead, have his pitcher hit), then he can not use a DH at all in that game.\n\n2) A DH may only hit for a pitcher.
336475
Hello,\n\nSoftball Rules Simplified   \n\nTHE GAME\n\nThere are 9 players on a softball team. \nThe playing field is divided into the infield and outfield \nThe lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield \nOutside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. \nAny ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out) \nAn official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat) \n\n\nPITCHING\n\nThe pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. \nThe ball must be thrown underhand. \nBoth hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. \n\n\nBATTING\n\nBatters must follow the same order throughout the whole game \nThe batter is out if and when: \na) three strikes have been called\n\nb) a fly ball is caught\n\nc) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box\n\n\nBASE RUNNING\n\nRunners must touch each base in order \nRunners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. \nRunners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitcher’s hand \nAfter a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base \nOne base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. \nStealing a base is not permitted \nA runner is out if: \na. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base\n\nb. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner\n\nc. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged\n\n\nTERMS:\n\nBall- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk) \nGrounder- A ball that is hit on the ground \nForce out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner. \nFly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nOn deck- the next batter \nPop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nStrike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all. \nStrike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees  \n\nSreekar.