[greymule]

Just a note about this play: when you make the correct call, at least half the ballpark will think you're wrong.

You might think about how you would handle the following play. I have had this one, and it's not as easy as it seems, especially if the coaches don't know what they're doing (always a possibility).

R3, R2, 1 out. Liner to short left center. R3 and R2 take off running. F7 makes the catch. R3 scores but did not tag up. R2 is hopelessly standing on 3B as F7 leisurely doubles him off at 2B.

What do you rule as the umpire? What if the defense, after the third out at 2B, leaves the field?

Last Saturday, I had the following play in SP softball, but the same rule would apply in baseball: R2, 1 out. Batter hits fly ball to left center. R2 takes off for 3B. F7 catches the ball and throws it back to the infield. R2 rounds 3B but misses it and, assuming he's an easy out, stands six feet down the base line as the ball rolls past everybody to F2, who proceeds to throw the ball into right field. R2 now figures it might be worth a try to get back to 2B, so he runs directly in a line to 2B and makes it safely.

The defense came screaming to me that R2 was "out of the baseline," but since he wasn't avoiding a tag, I couldn't rule him out. FINALLY, somebody said, "He didn't tag third on his way back to second!" So now we have the "out" call. F5 then cooled off and laughingly said, "I knew he done somethin' wrong, but I just didn't know how to say it." True.

The offense then claimed that since R2 missed 3B the first time around, he didn't have to touch it on the return to 2B.

A footnote: BEFORE this play, R2 had asked me how many outs there were. His 3B coach had also reminded him. Believe it or not, these were two good teams that routinely win big tournaments. I guess if plays don't involve balls blasted over the fence, they get a little confused.

[Edited by greymule on Jun 26th, 2002 at 09:09 AM]