Little League Question

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by NJBaseballDad

My son hit a deep line drive fly on an unfenced field and rounded all bases and was sent home where there was NO throw or contact at the plate. My son crossed the plate and was thrown out for not sliding. (It would have been his first home run).

I've been reading the rules as well as the comments posted here.

I also understand that the "spirit" of the rule is to avoid collisions at the plate.

Questions for the forum:

Should this ruling be protested? (For the win as well as to affect change in how this rule is enforced).

Should this rule be specifically amended?

Lastly, my son hit a triple in a game and was also called out for taking a primary lead, but the rule saying it was a mandatory out and no warning or teaching would be applied was administered the SAME day as the call.

I'm also proud to say that I've taught my son to abide by rulings and NEVEr argue a call. He handles himself with composure. I just feel that the rules are bring applied poorly and without any thoughtful interpretation.

What does the group think?

This is NOT a Little League rule. What rules were you reading?

[NJBaseballDad]

For the out at home plate, the umpire enforced the rule without urging from the other team.

In the called out for taking a lead, yes the other team had 5 (Yes. 5 coaches at the backstop behaving like an officiating review committee. I almost felt bad for the umpire.

But the nullified HR was not urged on by anyone. Just the umpires call. Again, the was no inbound throw, my son didn't contact the catcher or run outside of the baseline.

How do you reccomwnd we prevent this from happening again?

[CT1]

Originally Posted by NJBaseballDad

For the out at home plate, the umpire enforced the rule without urging from the other team.

How do you reccomwnd we prevent this from happening again?

I recommend that the league officials consult a lawyer about the potential for a lawsuit if a player is injured while making an unnecessary slide, and ask their insurance agent if their liability policy covers such an event.

[john5396]

your issue is with a local league rule rather than with a book rule for the slide at home. If the leage rule is must slide, no exceptions, then I applaud the umpire for enforcing as written (it is a bad rule and the league officers should update).

As far as a protest, LL which uses modified OBR along with every other code require a protest be filed before the next play. Leagues also have other local rules regarding protests like requiring a protest fee from the coach, usually refundable if the coach wins the protest, to discourage protesting every little thing.

As far as the being off the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. That is the rule. Coaches coach, umpires are bound to the rules they are given. LL baseball wrote the rule that the runner is out, that creates the teachable moment for the coach to teach. Again, if the local league procedure is for the umpire to give warnings, then so be it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by john5396

your issue is with a local league rule rather than with a book rule for the slide at home. If the leage rule is must slide, no exceptions, then I applaud the umpire for enforcing as written (it is a bad rule and the league officers should update).

As far as a protest, LL which uses modified OBR along with every other code require a protest be filed before the next play. Leagues also have other local rules regarding protests like requiring a protest fee from the coach, usually refundable if the coach wins the protest, to discourage protesting every little thing.

As far as the being off the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. That is the rule. Coaches coach, umpires are bound to the rules they are given. LL baseball wrote the rule that the runner is out, that creates the teachable moment for the coach to teach. Again, if the local league procedure is for the umpire to give warnings, then so be it.

The runner is never out for leaving early in LL baseball.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by john5396

your issue is with a local league rule rather than with a book rule for the slide at home. If the leage rule is must slide, no exceptions, then I applaud the umpire for enforcing as written (it is a bad rule and the league officers should update).

As far as a protest, LL which uses modified OBR along with every other code require a protest be filed before the next play. Leagues also have other local rules regarding protests like requiring a protest fee from the coach, usually refundable if the coach wins the protest, to discourage protesting every little thing.

As far as the being off the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. That is the rule. Coaches coach, umpires are bound to the rules they are given. LL baseball wrote the rule that the runner is out, that creates the teachable moment for the coach to teach. Again, if the local league procedure is for the umpire to give warnings, then so be it.

Not so. The runner is not out for leaving early.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by john5396

your issue is with a local league rule rather than with a book rule for the slide at home. If the leage rule is must slide, no exceptions, then I applaud the umpire for enforcing as written (it is a bad rule and the league officers should update).

As far as a protest, LL which uses modified OBR along with every other code require a protest be filed before the next play. Leagues also have other local rules regarding protests like requiring a protest fee from the coach, usually refundable if the coach wins the protest, to discourage protesting every little thing.

As far as the being off the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. That is the rule. Coaches coach, umpires are bound to the rules they are given. LL baseball wrote the rule that the runner is out, that creates the teachable moment for the coach to teach. Again, if the local league procedure is for the umpire to give warnings, then so be it.

The teachable moment exists here to motivate you to read the LL baseball rulebook. You quoted most likely a softball ruling. In LL baseball the runner can not leave the base until the pitch reaches the batter and the penalty as already noted is not an out.

[robbie]

Originally Posted by umpjim

The teachable moment exists here to motivate you to read the LL baseball rulebook. You quoted most likely a softball ruling. In LL baseball the runner can not leave the base until the pitch reaches the batter and the penalty as already noted is not an out.

3 posts say the runner is not out.
I don't do baseball (only softball) so what is the penalty?

[Mountaincoach]

Originally Posted by robbie

3 posts say the runner is not out.
I don't do baseball (only softball) so what is the penalty?

Here's a good place to start.

Hey, Blue! – What’s the Red Flag for?

[MT 73]

Originally Posted by robbie

3 posts say the runner is not out.
I don't do baseball (only softball) so what is the penalty?

The Little League rule book lists something like 13 possibilities when a runner leaves early, depending upon the situation.
None of which call for a runner to be declared out by the umpire.
Life would be simpler if they adopted the softball rule of dead ball, no pitch and runner is out.

[illinoisbluezeb]

Originally Posted by CT1

I recommend that the league officials consult a lawyer about the potential for a lawsuit if a player is injured while making an unnecessary slide, and ask their insurance agent if their liability policy covers such an event.

I will NOT officiate a league that has a "must slide rule" because of the above mentioned reasons.
The gentleman that got me into officiating changed our local softball & baseball league's slide rules. That was in the early 90's. We've on occasion had to remind a league board that there is a "sliding rule" in the books.

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