Quote:
Originally posted by FUBLUE
I was lucky enough to call a local county tournament this weekend. Did three games, first two on the plate, last one on the bases. Here's a situation we had happen.
Runner on THIRD one out.
Batter grounds to third base, she looks runner back, throws to first. Throw is wild, causing F3 to pull foot. I call, "pulled foot, SAFE!" F3 sees runner breaking for home, throws ball home to get the runner out at the plate.
(Next two happen simultaneously)
Defense starts off the field, coach realizes what I said and has fielders pick up ball and touch first base.
Batter-Runner thinks she's out, heads back to dugout by jogging down first-baseline. Coach says, "you call her safe." I said I did. He then yells "go back to first."
(Here's the fun part)
Runner heads back to first where, luckily, a wise fielder grabs the ball and tags the runner before she reaches first base. I call out.
MY QUESTION: Both coaches bring up good points.
DC: she's running bases in reverse/she gave herself up
OC: She never turned towards second, doesn't she get first automatically?
(by the way, my partner is shaking his head yes to both coaches at the same time)
Luckily, when I called the third out that inning it was already 8-0. So neither coach was upset by it.
Just wondering how you guys explain that one to a coach, or if you give the runner "benefit of the doubt" in returning to first, or if you envoke "umpire put her in jeopardy" rule, or if you just pull something out of your netherregions and hope coach buys it.
(Coach isn't really intense towards umpires; he actually likes umpires)
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Speaking ASA
How can the umpire put anyone in jeopardy if they made a correct call in a timely fashion?
Returning to 1B after overrunning it is permissible and may return without jeopardy as long as there is no attempt to advance to 2B (POE 36). Running the bases in reverse order is only an out if done so to confuse the fielders or make a travesty of the game.
There is no such rule instructing the umpire to rule a runner out for abandonment until the player has voluntarily left the field of play. Since you didn't mention it, I assume the runner never entered DBT.
Now, if the umpire never kills the ball, it is going to be dicey. Rule 8.8.I notes that the BR isn't not out when overrunning 1B after touching it as long as they return directly to the base. The BR could be called out if she had passed 1B or not been heading directly to it at the time the tag was applied.
A bit of preventive umpiring would have alleviated this entire situation. Knowing that it was not the 3rd out and seeing that the runner was not making any attempt to advance farther than 1B, it may have been wise to kill the ball. After all, that plate must have been awfully dirty after the play at home
[Edited by IRISHMAFIA on Apr 12th, 2004 at 07:29 AM]