Dear Kaliix, et. al.,
Rule 7.08 starts thusly:
Any runner is out when --
And, Rule 7.10 starts:
Any runner shall be called out, on appeal when --
Do you see and understand the difference between these two rules, and when they should be applied?
As I've tried to make clear, the entire reason that 7.08(k) was added to the rules is to spare the catcher from having to chase a runner all over the ballpark trying to tag him.
7.08(k), IMO, supercedes 7.10(d) in these situations because of the inclusion of the sentence "It does not apply to the ordinary play where the runner misses the plate and then immediately makes an effort to touch the plate before being tagged." If this is defined as the proper application of the rule in the ordinary case, then the proper application of the reverse is also true. (I.E., it is not required to tag the runner if he has not made an immediate effort to touch the plate.) However, we have that little caveat in the text of 7.08(k) and 7.10(d): "...and [he] makes no attempt to return to the base..."
Here then the culmination of my argument:[list=1][*]If an appeal is initiated by the defense on a runner who has missed home, and such runner has not yet attempted to correct his error at the time of such appeal, that runner is subject to being called out on the appeal, unless;[list=a][*]Such runner is, in the opinion of the umpire, sufficently near the area surrounding home plate so that the catcher would not have to give chase to the runner.[*]Such runner has immediately initiated an attempt to touch home to correct his error.[/list=a]
These above exceptions require that the runner be tagged.
[*]If a runner misses home and initiates an attempt to correct his error before the defense initiates an appeal of his miss, then he must be tagged for the out unless;[list=a][*]Such runner is, in the opinion of the umpire, sufficiently removed from the area surrounding home plate, so that the catcher would have to give chase to the runner.[/list=a][/list=1]
In any case, if after missing home, the runner then enters DBT he may not return to correct his error.
How's that?
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