Quote:
Originally posted by FUBLUE
To play devil's advocate, If a runner rounds first on a base on balls or on a play were the defense gives up, why should we call her out? Isn't she supposed to pick up the ball once rounding the base? Isn't she just being aggressive with base running?
Take this scenario: We have a runner on second and first, a base on balls to the batter, runner from second (R1) jogs to third and rounds it, picking up the ball when she rounds. For argument sake, let's say that R3 reaches first and stops on first simultaneously with R1's round of third. If we apply "committed to second" logic to R3, her round has "committed here home" and she must break for it. But no one calls here out, because she is rounding the base, looking for the ball (unless coach stops her).
Why can't a runner round first, stop and return? Is the intent of the rule to CONTROL THE RUNNER, or to get cheap outs?
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FUBLUE,
The situation you brought up is covered in part A of rule 8-7-3 (FED), and it states basically what you have said, i. e. the runner is allowed to round the base, stop once and pickup the ball, then immediately proceed to 2nd or return to 1st.
The parts, B, C, D, and E, which we are discussing here apply to a BR who runs straight through the bag along the 1st base foul line and out into right field. WMB was questioning the need for sections C, D, and E of rhw rule and my post as an attempt too convince him that they are indeed necessary clarifications of the rule.
SamC