[Rich]

Originally posted by Lilblue612
I believe this play has some previous discussion on this forum, but I’d like to clarify its legitimacy.

Runners on first and third. R1 takes his lead by running in a direct line from first base to the outer edge of the infield, a few steps into the outfield grass.

As for Fed, as defined in 8.4.2a N, “when a play is being made on a runner or batter-runner, he establishes his baseline as a directly between his position and the base toward which he is moving”.

Basically, Fed, in my opinion, says the runner, when played on, has to run in a direct line to second, or back to first.

My question is, working a lot of AABC games, which uses OBR, is the trick play still legal?

OBR 7.08 (a) (1) says, any runner is out when “he runs more than three feet away from a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged…”

Under the play, the runner isn’t really running away from the direct line between bases to avoid a tag. Instead, he’s starting out there to begin with. But, if played on, one has to believe this would constitute running outside that direct line to avoid such a tag, and he would be out.

I guess this ambiguity in semantics makes me unsure, and I’d like to hear the opinions of some of this board's veterans.

Nonetheless, in both Fed and OBR, the trick play can be successful in tricking the pitcher to balk, or just catching the defense off guard. As far as Fed, if the runner is smart, the runner can be played on, run directly to second, and unless he’s tagged, not draw an out call from me. But, under OBR, if the runner is played on, I’m leaning toward the out.

As always, thanks in advance for your assistance and expert opinions.


[Edited by Lilblue612 on Jul 4th, 2004 at 12:50 AM]

My expert opinion is that it would make more sense to teach hitting, pitching, baserunning, and fielding, but I'm just an umpire.