Quote:
Originally posted by WestMichBlue
... snip ... The next sentence is: "At that time, all runners on base must immediately move forward or return to their base."
Whaaat?
WMB
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Yes, that's the rule if you recognize that "on base" means being a baserunner, not necessarily touching an actual bag. Same context as "get on base" or "on base %".
On the NFHS forum, it was said that in Alabama the BR must actually get to 2nd if continuing to run past 1st before the rule applies. Not so, by rule. But I posted this theory and I wonder what those who skip the NFHS forum think about it.
The spirit of the rule is to prevent base runners from disrupting and delaying the game; given the short base distances. The "BR gets to 1st" aspect was added to avoid runners being called out for taking a lead while seeing where the throw would go or the outcome of a play at 1st. The logical extension of that thinking would be that the non-BR base runners are not exposed to the rule until play stops. Even if base runners like R1 in the examples actually stand still for a moment, the rule needs to be changed so the ball can not become dead while any runner or BR is still moving.
IMO, the choice would be the rule does not apply; but a DDB would be a little better. And it is not comparable to an interference dead ball because interference actually prevents the defense from continuing the play to their best ability.