A) The Rays brought Alex Cobb up for 1 day, then sent him down. He was also pulled up last year. So he has now been sent to the minors twice. He is a top prospect in their organization, so this is peculiar. I was under the impression someone could only be recalled 4 times before they had to be put on waivers. This likely isn’t the case, because the Rays wouldnt have done it otherwise. I wouldn’t even know where to look to clarify this rule. What determines when a player has to be placed on waivers, as opposed to to being “sent down” or outrighted, or whatever it’s called?

B) I was coaching my 13 year old son’s game tonight. A bunt was laid down. The catcher threw the ball to first. Their runner was on the inside of the baseline, and touched the inside of the base. He crashed into the first baseman at the moment the ball reached the bag. The first baseman got clobbered, and dropped the ball. The batter had to go back to first, because he never touched it. I argued the runner was out for interfering by being out of the baseline,. I have scoured the rulebook, and can only find references that the batter is out if the catcher’s throw hits him. So I assume I am wrong. However, if this was the case, wouldn’t every close play at first involve the runner going headfirst into the first baseman, K.O.ing him, then casually reaching over to touch the bag, while the firstbaseman is attempting to locate his dislocated kneecap?

C) Just a question about the rulebook. I came across this while searching for the answer to b).
7.05 Each runner including the batter runner may, without liability to be put out, advance-…….(d) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a thrown ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play;

I remeber seeing this a few years ago. Geovanni Soto if I’m not mistaken. A pitch was blocked in the dirt. The play was over, the runners weren’t advancing, so he casually used his mask to corral the ball and coax it back to his glove. Ump immediately called it, runners advanced. However, as I read it, the batter should advance two bases as well. Now this would be news, because I had always been taught there are 7 ways to get on first: hit, error, bb, k wp, fc, inerferance, hbp. Do I not understand this rule, or are there 8 ways? Each runner, including the batter.