Originally posted by Warren Willson:
Part(a) of Jones' ruling was that having entered the dugout, the runner is still allowed to return if he does so within a reasonable time period. That is the part of the ruling that was "new" to me. It may or may not be consistent with Wendelstadt's Baseball America quote; I don't have that.
Childress: Warren, you have it because it's the first post in the thread "My Answer POTEOD #12."
Willson: The real issue is entwined with Part(a). We have discussed Relaxed vs Unrelaxed action on this and other boards many times before. I seem to remember one momentous discussion involving yourself and a number of other posters on one side, and Bob Pariseau and myself on the other. It goes to the question in one of the posts above of exactly when does Relaxed action ever become Unrelaxed action again?
Bob Pariseau and I were aghast that a runner could run past a subsequent base (or two), and then turn around and attempt to return to a missed base and as long as the runner and the ball arrived in the vicinity of the "missed" base at approximately the same time, the action was UNRELAXED regardless of how far ahead the runner had been. The runner MUST BE TAGGED.
Childress: Yes, though I don't remember Pariseau. I hold with the point that -- regardless of how far a runner goes toward the next base -- the defense must tag him if he's trying to return to a missed base. For example, that could happen often in a rundown:
Play: 2 outs. A slow R1 goes to third on a single while a speedy B1 has rounded second without touching it. The defense is keeping R1 (now at third) close while trying to tag out B1 between second and third. If he is finally tagged out heading back to second, the pro umpire will not allow an appeal. If the runner at third managed to get home before B1 was tagged out trying to return to his missed ball, that run will count.
Willson: In my post to which Jim objected, I simply applied this principle by saying that when the runner returns from the dugout with the obvious intention of correcting his baserunning error, the action again becomes UNRELAXED and the runner must be tagged. This is the same principle, as I understand it, that would be applied at a missed 2nd base if the runner was between 3rd and 2nd on his way back.
Childress: In my post (where I agreed with you and Jim corrected me) I made it clear I believed the action became unrelaxed when the runner comes out of the dugout. That was my impression of what Cris Jones had ruled. I agree with you it is the most reasonable way to approach that situation, if it should ever occur again.
It is, after all, consistent with play at the other bases!
Willson: Can UNRELAXED ACTION be reinstated by the actions of the runner, after the runner has passed a succeeding base? Earlier concensus on McGriff's and UT (with Pariseau and Willson dissenting) was YES!
Childress: Isn't the point, rather, that when a runner is still circling the bases, the action cannot be relaxed: If he can be tagged out, that means the participants (defense/runner) never "relaxed." Consequently, there is no reinstatement since it was never "uninstated." (Is that a word?)
Willson: Can UNRELAXED ACTION be reinstated by the actions of a runner, after the runner has missed home plate and entered the dugout? Apparently NO, according to you and Jim Porter in this thread (with Willson no longer dissenting, just confused).
Childress: I think that Cris and Wendelstedt simply recognize that when a runner returns from the dugout, all action concerning him had ceased; it has by definiton become "relaxed." In other words home plate, like the very rich, is different.
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Papa C
Editor, eUmpire
[This message has been edited by Carl Childress (edited September 01, 2000).]
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