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Originally posted by mpeterson_1
I am posting in regard to two different plays that generally get lumped together in discussion. The first is at 2nd base during an attempted double play. F4 straddles the bag, recieves the throw from F6 clearly before R1 gets there, relays the throw on to first, but never actually touches the bag. I am likely to call R1 out as long as F4 makes a throw on to first base. If, however, no throw is made, contact with the bag is necessary.
The second instance is on a play at first base in which the throw clearly beats the B/R and F3 pulls his foot off the base early to avoid injury. I'm also likely to call the B/R out as long as the play clearly beat him. However, if the play was close, F3 must keep contact with the bag.
These are both examples of ad/disad., no? I'd like to hear some thoughts on this.
Your thread comes under the category of the "neighborhood play" or Calling that which is expected.
If the play is a "banger" then F4/F6 better be on the base, however, as others have mentioned if the player is out by a mile THEY ARE OUT unless the DEFENSE prooves to you that they are not.
This means that if the throw is a good one, and F4/F6 are where they are supposed to be - We have an Out. If the throw is bad pulls F4/F6 off bag etc. then we could have an out / safe depending upon the reactions of the fielders.
Is this Cheating ? NO because the same philosophy holds true for BOTH teams.
This type of play separates the inexperienced from the experienced umpire. I will give you an example.
When I first started umpiring for prime time I looked to make certain that F4/F6 touched the bag etc. on the routine stuff. On one particular play the runner was out by a mile but I call safe saying F4 didn't touch the second base bag, however, you talk about emabarrassing moments, by the time I called the runner safe, the runner himself was halfway to the dugout meaning even He knew he was out.
That was a lesson well learned. Also, as Bob Jenkins points out, this method is not understood by kids who don't shave so you have to rule accordingly.
Pete Booth
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Peter M. Booth
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