Quote:
Originally posted by Ump20
Actually I didn't read the play very carefully and didn't concentrate on Jim Porter's answer. I've got to say I lean with Rog on this play. A coach who has to prevent a runner from attempting to score on such a play by merely being in his path lends little meaningful assistance if a collision results in which both player and coach fall to the ground. With the proper cutoff that runner should still be thrown out at 3B.
|
Agreed. That's not the case here, however. The illegal contact resulted in the runner being saved from an out at home, where a play was being made on him, and facilitated a safe return to 3rd base ahead of a second play made on him there. The runner benefited from the contact with the coach. Does the fact that both runner and coach end up on the ground prevent this being classified as "assistance"? Clearly NOT if it saves an out on the runner and ends with the runner returning safely to 3rd base!
Quote:
I think you could rule the coach interfered especially if the coach alters his natural stance. However, if the player with his head down rounds the bag rather than cutting it and collides with his coach I think that may be enough punishment. If you see the coach adjust his position to cause the collision you could call it. I'd say that would be tough if the coach never raises his hands even to protect himself. Some runners "make up their minds" absent what a coach might be saying or signaling. Jim Simms/NYC
|
Jim, how MUCH does the coach have to alter "his natural stance"? In this case, the coach moved out of the box, down the line, AND physically placed his whole body in the runner's path! That's a one hell of an alteration I'd say! (grin) It's certainly "(adjusting) his position to cause the collision".
What the runner thinks is also irrelevant, beyond whether or not he was actually going to stop or return of his own volition. If the runner
was going to stop or return on his own, then I would certainly agree that the collision was not "assistance", despite the coach's intentions. This runner was expressly NOT going to stop or return by his own choice. The collision with the coach made his mind up for him. That's "assistance" by physical contact.
Cheers,