Quote:
Originally posted by mcrowder
Dave, unless I misunderstand Mike, I believe this is where Mr. Rowe and I differ.
According to what I've seen/read from ASA, the award of 2B in your sitch is what they want us to do. No revision to a 3B award is called for due to the subsequent fielding error.
I DO understand the desire to change this to a triple more than I understand the desire to change an award based on a subsequent THROW into the infield. But to my mind, even this is not the intent of the rule or any interpretations I've read. I'm sure that if there's an interp out there (or even verbal direction from ASA) that makes this one an award of third base, Mike will correct me. I just haven't seen one if it exists.
Dakota - of all the SAF's (Subsequent Action Faction) I know, your opinion is the most respected. Too many simply feel, "This isn't fair, so I'm going to call it my way". You, at least, say, "This isn't fair, I'm going to argue for it to be fixed... but until then I will call it the way ASA tells me." And you preach that POV here.
I understand your point of view even if I disagree with it. I understand it slightly more on an initial fielding error than on an incoming throw, but when thinking of it along the veins of my first very long post, I still disagree.
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Here is the train of thought in the note above. And some may say this differs with the exact wording presented by some in ASA. I'm not comfortable with the manner in which some interpret the word "immediately". The OF would have misplayed a ball whether the OBS occured or not. Odds are the runner would have seen the misplay or receive directions from the coach to continue running. If you, as the umpire, feel the runner would have made 3B safely, I would allow for that, but when I see it, not after the ball is coming back to the IF. This is where our judgment comes into action.
On the same line, I know some umpires will not award a runner 3B whether they thought they could have made it or not if the runner just trots into 2B and doesn't attempt an advance to 3B. There are also umpires who want to wait until the play is over to decide. To those umpires, I've always asked, "What do you do when the runner falls to the ground and does not get up?" You need to make a determination of how the play would have proceeded had the OBS not occured.
Umpires who have been observing this game for a while and have any type of familiarity with a team, player, coach, etc. can often anticipate a play before it unfolds. It's almost like a sixth sense, much like peeking over one's shoulder to catch a look at a ball to the outfield while you are executing a button-hook inside the diamond. You just know when you can look and still not skip a beat with your mechanic and responsibility.
As far as "no penalty" for those an umpire believes is intentionally obstructing a runner, that IS unsportsmanlike conduct and in the interest of safety and liability, the umpire should not hesitate to dump a player if their illegal actions persist after warning a coach of what you believe is happening. Let the coach address the player, that's part of their job. BTW, I've been on the field in an ISF World Cup game when my partner did just that. Told F3 to give the runner all of 1B. Second time it happened, he went to the team manager and told him that F3 was standing adjacent to the inside corner to the point of forcing the BR to adjust their route while rounding the base. The next inning it occured again and he instructed the coach he needed a new F3. Granted, these were adults, but if the coach will not help the situation, you need to dump a player who is puting others at risk.