Boy, I must have blown a lot of calls through the years. (I mean, I know I have, but not THIS badly.)
If you guys seriously think that 8-8 doesn't apply to batter-or-bratter-runners then . . .
A. The batter's not out for running 3 feet out of the base path to avoid a tag. (No equivalent in 8-2)
B. The batter's not out if she's tagged before she reaches first. (No equivalent in 8-2)
C. The batter's not out if first is tagged before she reaches it. (No equivalent in 8-2)
Now don't tell me these are covered by 8-2-B (B-R is out when "legally put out"), because if THEY are, why isn't E (physically assisting)? Man, I been callin' WAY too many outs . . .
Well, obviously they ARE all covered by that. The wording just isn't perfectly clear.
When one reads a book written by human beings, one cannot take its language completely literally, because there are bound to be contradictions. One has to look to the intent of the writers and the interpretations through the years. This applies in baseball, in softball, and in the law. (Occasionally this same conversation comes up regarding other famous books. I am offering no opinion here on those books, just so nobody gets mad!)