Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
When a runner has left a base too soon (always obvious to everyone), if a subsequent throw by a fielder goes dead, the runner receives two bases measured from the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
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Fed Rule 8-3-5b:
ARTICLE 5. An award is from the base determined as follows:
a. If the award is the penalty for an infraction such as a balk, use of detached player equipment, or an illegal glove/mitt, the award is from the base occupied at the time of the infraction.
b. If any pitch (batted or unbatted) is followed by a dead ball before the pitcher is in position for the next pitch and before there is any throw by the fielding team, any award is from the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
When a runner, who is returning to touch a base after a batted ball has been caught is prevented from doing so because a thrown live ball has become dead (5-1 -1 g), his award shall be from the base he occupied at the time of the pitch. In any situations other than (a) or (b), on a batted ball which is the first play by an infielder, all runners including the batter-runner are awarded two bases from their positions at the time of the pitch. For purposes of this rule, the act of fielding is not considered a play. If every runner, including the batter-runner, has advanced one base at the time of the first play, the award is two bases from the time of the throw. For any subsequent play by an infielder or for any throw by an outfielder, the award is two bases from the time of the throw. [all emphasis mine]
I have bolded the pertinent information relative to this situation. The Fed states the runner "who is returning" would get two bases from time of pitch.
It does not state a runner "who is required to return" would get to bases from time of pitch. The closing statement of the rule would apply to a runner "not returning" to touch a base after a catch, and
as it states, that award is 2 bases from the time of the throw.
With the past Fed appeal rule, this wording was of no relevance since any player at or beyond a subsequent base would be declared out automatically when the ball became dead. Therefore, the fact of whether or not he was returning was of no significance. If the runner were in such position at time of throw that the he could return by rule, that meant he was not on or beyond a subsequent base. Therefore, the base obtained at time of throw and that which he had at time of pitch were the both the same base and the same basis of the award.
NOW, with the change of the Fed appeal rule, and with the addition to of the stipulation in caseplay 8.2.5:
Upon a proper appeal, R1 shall be called out.
the fact of whether the runner is attempting return or not at the time the ball becomes dead NOW becomes a factor. A runner beyond a subsequent base
and not attempting return,
per the wording of the rule, would receive to bases from his location at time of throw. If another caseplay exists to disprove this, then I have not found it, and please feel free to present it. Until such time as a ruling comes forth, I feel the wording of the rule should be followed.
We all know that any runner beyond a subsequent base cannot LEGALLY return to touch his original base, but he may ILLEGALLY return to touch it, and then accept his award. The defense may then APPEAL the act of the illegal return for which we would then declare the runner out. The problem we will face as officials is that neither the offense nor the defense may know that the return of such a runner is illegal. The offense may attempt that illegal retouch, and upon seeing the retouch, the defense may never appeal it. I'd think that we'd need to have our award correct, per the rules, should that situation arise.
Childress, I don't know whether or not you properly made this change to your BRD, but if you didn't, then it's a difference you don't have listed. You would either need to obtain a ruling to support that "time of pitch" applies to a runner "required" to return for retouch after a catch, or correct the BRD one more time. As of now, it appears the "time of pitch" only applies if the runner "who is returning" cannot do so because the ball becomes dead. Remember, it's not up to you to make the rules in the BRD, only report them.
I feel what I have shown here highlights the error of your quoted statement.
This may not be what the Fed meant, but as of now
it is what they state. Because of the wording of their rule, the award
is based on the action of the runner at the time the ball becomes dead. The Fed has caseplays in the casebook that are in error due to lack of coordinating all the adjustments properly related to their recent change in appeal procedures. It is possible this is an oversight on their behalf---but that's not your choice Childress---it's theirs. If it needs correction then I trust they will address the issue, but I hope you are not attempting to do so unilaterally.
Just my opinion,
Freix