tie goes to the runner?

[Warren Willson]

Originally posted by 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.

With all due respect, St Louis Blue, your conclusion about the criterion being used in MLB baseball is not valid unless you can also establish that a "very close call" that is accompanied by a poor play by the defense "almost always" results in a safe call.

If questioned I think most pro officials would respond that they declare such close calls for the defense because the runner didn't beat the play to the base. That is NOT because of any arbitrary tenet such as "If in doubt, call them out" but rather because the rules actually require a result that goes that way, and the facts of science that say baseballs travel faster than runners.

Hope this helps

Cheers

[Edited by Warren Willson on Sep 23rd, 2003 at 04:12 PM]