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Old Thu Mar 24, 2011, 04:03pm
chuckfan1 chuckfan1 is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeStrybel View Post
First of all Chuck, thank you for posting the video and congratulations on a nice game. It is always good to discuss things with a frame of reference.

Speaking of videos, the NCAA New Rules piece from 1/28/11 features plays at the plate and the collision rule. Jump to 10:00 in and see what I mean.

Below is what was sent out at the beginning of this month from the NCAA interpreter's office.

(1) The runner must make an actual attempt to reach the base (plate).
If the runner attempted to dislodge the ball or initiated an avoidable collision, the runner shall be declared out, even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.

(2) The runner may not attempt to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
If the contact was flagrant or malicious before the runner’s touching the plate, the runner shall be declared out and also ejected from the contest. The ball is immediately dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.

(3) The runner must attempt to avoid a collision if he can reach the base without colliding.
If the contact was flagrant or malicious after the runner had touched the base (plate), the runner will be ruled safe and ejected from the contest. The ball is immediately dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. If this occurs at any base other than home, the offending team may replace the runner.
If the contact was after a preceding runner had touched home plate, the preceding runner will be ruled safe. The ball is immediately dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the contact.

(4) If the runner’s path to the base is blocked and (1), (2), and (3) are fulfilled, it is considered unavoidable contact.
Rationale: This additional wording assists umpires and teams to better understand the responsibilities of the runner and fielder in situations when a collision occurs.

In the play from your game, the runner meets all criteria. It was simply an ugly slide. The base was blocked and he was trying to reach it - he does not have to slide. How do you call INT on that play? It looks to me that he was planning to go in standing up and then realized there would be a play. He had all of two seconds to adjust from full speed stand up score to uh, oh... (politically correct given the Christian school) If you rule that he intentionally commited a flagrant act then he should have been ejected. I don't see a flagrant act, just a bad slide on a last second adjustment.

Of note also is the NCAA rule regarding a pick off play. In NCAA ball the fielder must have possession of the ball prior to blocking the base. This is different from a play on the runner other than a pick off. You can see that at 5:22 of the same video. It has nothing to do with this play but has been brought up in discussion regarding OBS.

Thanks again for the video and I look forward to your feedback regarding how the runner interfered with the play. Have a great season!

Mike

Hey Mike... its Jeff, Chuckfan1 is in honor of the true King of Rock...but thats another board, discussion
I didnt post this video. I posted the original video of R3 trying to score on the pass ball. Someone else posted the video of the balk/play-at-plate video within this thread....

To what you mention:
(1) The runner is not making an attempt to reach the base (plate). Hes making an attempt, to me, to go at F1. I see him attempting, to me , to dislodge. Or, "break up the play" or any other term that you use. Hes not going to the plate. The plate is down and straight ahead on this play, not straight ahead.

(2) Nothing malicious here. The elbow gets up, but not malicious.

(3) The runner cant avoid the collision here, but any contact should be down low at the plate, with the runner sliding feet or head first, or giving himself up.

Of course runner doesnt have to slide. But what sticks with me from the meetings was, that the runner (paraphrasing here) should be trying to get to the base/plate. Not go through the fielder to get there. Where the runner is going on this play, is not to the plate. The plate is "down there"..

If someone is trying to score , they slide to the plate. Hes not doing that here. Its not over the top Bo Jackson-bowl him over, but besides trying to score, hes also going at the catcher....
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