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Originally posted by oppool
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The physical assistance at home is a clarification as a runner is usually no longer considered a runner once they've crossed the plate.
I would have to disagree on this if a runner that has not touched HP I would still consider a runner until he has entered the dugout or DBT...
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But, by rule, if the runner passes the plate you are to rule them safe until properly appealed by the defense. Like I said, this is a clarification for those who saw it differently
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The USC change is in relation to a discussion I had with Walt Sparks in August. I assume he, or someone else had
a problem which sparked this proposal. If a runner rounded 1B while the ball was in the outfield and for some reason attacked, punched, ran over (you get the point) F3, the umpire has no rule to do anything until the play was over and then, he could only eject the player. This is a provision to kill the play immediately and adds a little bite to the penalty involved.
You could rule obstruction F3 must have been to close(just kidding). I would agree with a tougher penalty as the player or the player closest to home would be called out and the player ejected. Just not sure best bet would be to call dead ball. What if the USC was to try to break up a double play our we just going to allow the one out and player ejection because of the dead ball situation??.
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No, that is already covered by the rules. This new rule gives the umpire authority to take action should something occur not covered by the rules.
The example similar to the one offered by Walt Sparks (another damn Texan) was this: BR & F3 don't particularly care for each other and been jawing the whole game. As the BR is rounding 1B while the ball is in the outfield, the runner drops F3 with a right to the chops. Under the rules the only authority the umpire had was to wait until the end of the play and then eject the runner. If you don't kill the ball, you may have multiple live runners at the same time you have a bench-clearing brawl around 1B.
The new rule just gives the umpire an instant resolution and additional penalty should something like this happen. And odds are, this did happen somewhere which is what usually brings about new rules like this one.
As usual, they are always appreciated.