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GRD revisited
I'd like to present another ground rule double scenario.
Bottom of the ninth inning, bases loaded and the home team trails by two runs. With a 3-2 count, the batter flares a hit into left field. The left fielder, who has ample time to play the ball, slips in his attempt to make the play. Knowing the runners are off with the pitch, the left fielder sees the runner from first about to score what he thinks is the winning run and gives up on the ball. The runner from first scores, but meanwhile the ball keeps rolling in fair territory, then a) bounces into the ivy; b) rolls under the fence; c) bounces over the fence. Is it still a GRD and the runner on first returned to third? Or is that runner allowed to score? What I believe is the ground rule double is based on the ball going out of playing being dead. 99 percent of the time, a batter will not reach first or the runner the next base before the ball bounces out of play. Therefore the ground rule double. But if the ball is still live while the action of the runners is in process, those runners should be awarded their proper bases.
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