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Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
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Originally posted by mick
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...But your sitch doesn't necessarily meet that simplistic criteria, because the offensive team has created an unnatural opening and has produced more of a ground rule situation (missing fence area, hole in the fence, opening in the fence) that could have been covered with the managers at the plate meeting.
...But you kinda did cover it when you asked the team to have the gate closed at all times.
So, it seems, we must do what we're paid to do. We must adjudge fairness.
[*]1. If the defense had left the gate open, their throw through the gate could be rationalized as their gate, their problem --> two bases.[*]2. But, it was the offensive team's gate that was left open and awarding any more than one base would certainly be penalizing the defense for an offensive wrong-doing --> one base[*] 3. Had the gate been closed, as requested, the ball may (or may not) have taken an ugly bounce and the runners may have earned two bases, but possibly would have been held to only one.
For me, in your case, I would award one base time-of-throw.
A quick glance about the dugout area, with each new batter, may prevent such contingencies.
mick
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And after a quick glance around you might find the defense's gate open also... both teams had the same error but the offense just had a batter come out and leave the gate open... same penalty?
I think I wouldn't worry about gates and trying to enforce and extra rule. If they close it okay. If they don't and the defense throws it OOP then enforce the rule and award some bases. Tough luck. Bad throw. Next time make a good throw and catch the ball.
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DownTownTonyBrown,
Yes, I think the same penalty should be enforced for the gates on both sides. That's how I interpolated the award to one base.
Seems to me that the *long* two base award would encourage both teams to "forget" to close the gates just to put the opponents defense at that possible, though slight, disadvantage.
Lucky, or unlucky, for me, I think there is only one field here with pass gates and they are unused by the teams and have a tendancy to remain closed and outs the way.
mick