Quote:
Originally posted by Kaliix
WWTB,
I am inclined to agree with your interpretation of the coach preventing passing by physically stopping it from happening.
However, the rule doesn't support it, at least from what I have found in the rule book.
Rule 3-2-2 states: "No coach shall physically assist a runner during playing action."
Playing action is defined in Rule 2-29-1 as (refering to the word play), "The term is also used to denote a unit of action which begins when a pitcher has the ball in his possession in pitching position and ends when the ball becomes dead..."
By rule, playing action cannot occur during a dead ball and the rule regarding coaches physically assisting only covers those actions that occur during playing action. It may be an oversight in the rule, but it appears that a coach can during a dead ball physically assist a runner.
|
Very well reasoned - and unassailable as far as FED rules go.
Pending a ruling, the TASO education committee, at my urging, removed this very question from the 2006 state test.
The case book at 3.2.2A is wonderfully ambiguous. Dead ball on a home run over the fence. Coach helps a runner to his feet: "He [the runner] is allowed to score with this type of assistance by the third-base coach."
Now, does "this type" refer only to assisting the runner to rise? Or does it refer to
any assistance ("Touch that base, boy!) during a dead ball?
I agree with you. It is an oversight. The "common sense" solution is to call out the runner because of coach interference.
A parallel example: The defense with a dead ball attempts the hidden ball play. The umpire erronesouly puts the ball in play (the pitcher doesn't have it on the mound), and the first baseman tags out R1. It's a balk, right?
Wrong? The ball is dead, so the actions of the defense, though "illegal," cannot be punished.
IF an umpire wants to penalize this dead-ball "interference," he may do so, because of the ambiguity of 3.2.2A, by invoking 10-2-3g, the FED "points not covered" rule: "Hey, coach, everybody saw you keep that runner from missing a base. Heck, common sense tells us...."
Again, I commend you for the thoroughness of your research. I'm copying your post and sending it up the chain of command for an official ruling.