[Ump20]

Originally posted by Jim Porter
Here's a call I made in the RIMSBL Over-30's Finals this past season. I caught a lot of grief. However, I would've caught a lot of grief no matter which way I called it.

A strange hopper was hit to F4, shaded towards F3. F3 started for the ball, and then thought better of it. F4 fielded the ball and tried to throw to F3, who was on the run. He missed it, and the ball bounced over to the fence.

After the BR over-ran first, he didn't immediately realize that the ball had been overthrown. Once he did, he flinched toward second, but immediately stopped himself when he saw F2 field the errant throw. F2 flipped to F3, who chased the BR down and applied a tag.

My call: Out!

So, did I deserve the grief I caught? Is a, "flinch," toward second enough for you to decide that the BR did not, "return immediately," to first? Or would you require more, like a step toward second, before you'll terminate the BR's protection? Should I have said something to the BR to let him know he was in jeopardy? Give it to me good!

I'm not sure I understand the subtle difference between the flinch and whether we are ruling on an immediate return to first base or an attempt to advance to second. It is my understanding that a flinch can be considered an attempt especially when the batter-runner has no clue as to where the thrown ball went. As BU I made this OUT call a couple of years ago in a High School Varsity game. I thought I made the right call on the runner making an "attempt". Later in the game I was sure I had when I got a chance to ask PU and he said the runner told his coach "I didn't know where the ball was". The first baseman had short-hopped a bad throw.

I would say if you have any doubt rule an OUT when the runner makes a deliberate STEP toward second with the purpose of advancing. Jim/NYC