[QUOTE=TwoBits;747751]
Quote:
I was the one who posted the recent "Rules Myths" update on here, and every year at this time I'm trying to improve it.
I've been thinking about the myth in the title of this post and if I've really explained it to the letter of the rule:
Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielders, either. The umpire must judge either the runner beating the throw or the throw beating the runner. Ties do not exist
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The proper terminology for a so called "tie" is referred to as the "coin flip" call. IMO, there could be factors involved in determining the "coin flip' call.
Example: Ground ball deep in the hole between second / third. F6 makes a great play and the call is a "coin flip" For the most part you reward the great play by F6. Everyone EXPECTS it.
On the flip side. Slow ground ball to F4 / F6 doesn't matter, F4/F6 instead of charging the ball take their "sweet time" in getting to the ball. B1 busting it out of the box from the get go. F4/F6 turns what should be a routine play into a "coin flip". For the most part you will rule SAFE.
My guess is that the myth "tie goes to the runner" came about at approximately the same time as the "neighborhood play" or when there were no umpires. The teams most likely agreed that "a tie" would in fact go to the runner. When I played and had no umpires that's what we did.
Pete Booth