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Old Thu Mar 13, 2014, 05:08am
Manny A Manny A is offline
Stirrer of the Pot
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Lowcountry, SC
Posts: 2,380
What a mess.

Frankly, I blame the third base coach (who I assume is an adult) for allowing his runner to be at risk. Everyone knows (or should know) the house rule in the league that the five-run rule is no longer in effect. Unless the umpire clearly yelled out, "THAT'S FIVE RUNS; SWITCH IT UP!" or made some other signal that clearly meant the inning was over, it's the base coach's fault the runner was tagged. That's why he is out there.

Umpires communicate to the teams on occasion, and that doesn't mean play is dead. For example, when a batter starts running to first base on Ball Three, the plate umpire may say, "THAT'S BALL THREE!" Or on a tag play where the umpire may not see if the fielder has the ball secured in his glove, the umpire may say, "SHOW ME THE BALL!" Play is still live when that happens.
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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