Too many umpires are hung up over the definition of "immediately" in the LBR. My response is: "Who cares?"
Call the game in accordance with the intent, or spirit of the rule. LBR is designed to stop the game playing between the pitcher (or catcher) by a runner. If the runner is not taunting the pitcher, let her go. It doesn't matter if she hesitiates 0.1 seconds or 2.1 seconds. Just glance at her; if she goes back, then take a deep breath and go on with the game.
The only time I get concerned with the LBR is when the offense is trying to gain an advantage. This happens when a runner, usually at 1B, is trying to get a play on herself to get a runner home from 3B. In that situation I would agree that you need to hold the runner(s) to a fairly strick interpretation of the LBR.
WMB
|