tie goes to the runner?

[St. Louis Blue]

I use the same type of evaluation as Bfair indicated above. I have noted that the MLB umpires seem to subscribe to this theory. A very close call on a great play by the defense almost always results in an out call.

In discussing this topic of "tie goes to the ..." I think there is a distinction to be made in what we mean by a tie.
It is a physical reality that on some plays the ball will arrive in the glove at the exact same instant as the foot touches the bag. This is by defination a tie. The problem lies with the fact that the baseball rules (or softball for that matter) do not recognize the concept of a tie. Since the rules we play under do not recognize a tie as existing, in the context of the game played under these rules, a tie does not exist. We are presented with the same type of situation we encounter with a true/false question where the question is not sufficiently defined so as to make a proper and correct determination as to which answer is correct. We are then forced to use our experience and what data is available to decide which of the two possible answers is most correct. You as an umpire may think it was a tie in your mind but "tie goes to the runner" is not an acceptable reason for your final decision as to safe or out.

Early in my umpiring career, I used to think in these terms, but now I use all of the available data (see Bfair's comment) and make my decision based on those. Using the tie goes ... logic is merely a crutch.

Just my opinion
Gordon Raney