Base Awards

[Fan10]

I'm just a fan here, but I try to make it a point to know the rules. Sitting in the stands last night at a D1 baseball game last night, I observed the following. With a runner at 1st, the pitcher throws a pickoff attempt into the stands. The umps award the runner 2B. I thought that it should have been a two base award: time of throw. The coach for the offense came out and had a brief discussion with the plate ump and then went back to the dugout. Knowing what I know, I would have played the game under protest, but he must have been happy with the explanation. Did I miss something?

[Eastshire]

A throw out-of-play from the pitching rubber is a one base award.

[dileonardoja]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

A throw out-of-play from the pitching rubber is a one base award.

Your assuming he knows the difference between from the rubber and after disengaging. We'll see how that pans out

[Fan10]

OK, that's why I came here--to see if I may have missed something. I knew that a pitched ball out of play was one base, but I was under the assumption that this was a thrown ball, which was two bases. I did not know there was a difference between a thrown ball from the rubber. Like I said, the coach for the offense was apparently happy with the explanation, so that may have been what the plate ump explained to him. Thanks.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Fan10

OK, that's why I came here--to see if I may have missed something. I knew that a pitched ball out of play was one base, but I was under the assumption that this was a thrown ball, which was two bases. I did not know there was a difference between a thrown ball from the rubber. Like I said, the coach for the offense was apparently happy with the explanation, so that may have been what the plate ump explained to him. Thanks.

I expect that the coach was simply asking whether F1 stepped off first. If he had, THAT would have been a 2-base award.

[ozzy6900]

Hey Fan,

The rule is simple. When a pitcher throws the ball out of play, it all depends if he was on the rubber when he made the throw or off the rubber (he is now an infielder). The award rule is simple:

• 1 from the rubber
• 2 from the field

If the pitcher is in contact with the rubber when he throws out of play, the award is 2 bases.

If the pitcher is off the rubber (infielder), the award is 2 bases.

Keep this simple saying:

• 1 from the rubber
• 2 from the field

in your head and you will be the smarter fan!