Quote:
Originally posted by Cubbies87
The rules of baseball are written in order to regulate the play of the game. They are the law. Nothing is above the law. The rules of baseball state that the runner must beat the ball to the bag, and not vice-versa.
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Rule 6.05(j) says:
6.05 A batter is out when_
(j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base;
Note the word "before." It doesn't say "before or at the same time as;" it just says "before." If you read that rule carefully, and literally, then you have to say that this particular rule would indicate that a tie does indeed go to the runner. The rule says he's out if he's tagged *before* he touches first base. So, if he's tagged *at the same time he touches first base,* he's not out, because he hasn't met the requirement of the rule. He's safe.
On the other hand, if you read the corresponding rule in Rule 7 regarding the runner, you'll see phrasing that gives the tie to the defense. The truth is, the *literal* rules say different things in different places. Moreover, it's highly unlikely that the original rulemakers were even thinking about "what about a tie" when they used the wording they used in the various rules. They were almost surely thinking instead that there are no ties, therefore there's no need for a rule to address ties.
This is always an amusing debate between the literalists, who strike me as just a tad anal-retentive
(the rules are the rules!) and simplistic
(if he's out he's out and if he's safe he's safe!) about it, and the pragmatists, who see value in developing a set of guidelines to help them be more consistent and more in tune with the spirit of the game as well as the perceptions and expectations of the game participants, in deciding those razor-thin, too-close-to-call, coin-flip plays.
The "benefit of the doubt" guidelines previously mentioned are indeed endorsed by respected umpires at every level, including the college and pro ranks. Carl Childress has written extensively on the concept, fully endorsing it. In fact, it was one of his articles addressing the subject that helped me take my own game to a higher level a few years ago.
Developing and using a set of benefit-of-the-doubt guidelines is a useful tool for practical umpiring. Try it, you'll like it.