Double Play Question

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by Rev.Ref63
I hope this isn't considered a "dumb question." I've always taught my children that the only dumb question is a questioned not asked.

My 16 year old son and I love to watch and play baseball. Recently, we were watching a Cub's game and my son noticed during a replay that the shortstop was not touching second base during a successful doubleplay. He was amazed that the umpire called the runner "out" when the defensive player was "off the bag" at second. I told him that I thought there was a "zone" that the defensive player must be in and did not have to literally "touch" second base.

Am I correct about this play or did the umpire on TV blow the call?

Reverend,

The rule does state that the base needs to be touched by the fielder with the ball. As the game progressed through the years, it became an "art" to take out the pivot man on the double play. ***Please note that the pivot man is the lead man in the double play and 99.9% of the time is at 2nd base.***
Ty Cobb used to run at full speed, kick out both feet in the air and come at you with "his nails up". He harpooned many a short stop and second baseman in his day. MLB has been allowing the pivot man to "get close enough" to say that the touch could have happened. This of course is the judgement of the umpire.

Over time, this has filtered down to NCAA, FED (High School) and youth leagues that use the 90' diamond. I never require the pivot man to actually touch the base but I have on occasion called a runner safe because the pivot man was just too far off the base. As far as I know, players on the 60' diamond still have to touch the base.