Neighborhood Play

[Mark Dexter]

I'm a longtime member who often posts on the basketball board, but had a Little League question.

I was asked to help out on the bases, and was at A. Ground ball was hit to the left side, and F3 straddled the bag waiting for the throw. He caught the ball (feet still to either side of 1st base) and held it for a few seconds (probably just seemed that long to me) before finally touching a foot to the base just before the batter touched.

Thankfully, the kid finally touched the bag, so I had an easy out call (and some quick advice to stretch out and keep a foot on the base). If, however, he never touched, or touched after the runner reached the base, would you call the runner out? (The ball arrived well before the batter.) I'm familiar with the neighborhood play concept (and the need for it) at 2nd, but was unsure if this philosophy applied to any other bases.

[umpduck11]

The only "neighborhood" play I'm likely to give
at 1st is the occasional quick-pull from the first
baseman,if the ball has beaten the runner,and F3 is
peventing himself from being spiked,or run over.
If F3 cannot step on the bag on a normal,non-banger
play,then I cannot call the out.

[DG]

Originally posted by Mark Dexter
I'm a longtime member who often posts on the basketball board, but had a Little League question.

I was asked to help out on the bases, and was at A. Ground ball was hit to the left side, and F3 straddled the bag waiting for the throw. He caught the ball (feet still to either side of 1st base) and held it for a few seconds (probably just seemed that long to me) before finally touching a foot to the base just before the batter touched.

Thankfully, the kid finally touched the bag, so I had an easy out call (and some quick advice to stretch out and keep a foot on the base). If, however, he never touched, or touched after the runner reached the base, would you call the runner out? (The ball arrived well before the batter.) I'm familiar with the neighborhood play concept (and the need for it) at 2nd, but was unsure if this philosophy applied to any other bases.

I can't recall ever calling a neighborhood out at 1B. 2B is another story.

[mattmets]

I personally don't believe in the neighborhood play at all. Runners don't get that benefit, so why should the defense? The base is there for a reason- touch it.

But no, there is definitely no neighborhood at first base.

[DG]

Originally posted by mattmets
I personally don't believe in the neighborhood play at all. Runners don't get that benefit, so why should the defense? The base is there for a reason- touch it.

But no, there is definitely no neighborhood at first base.

Runners do get a benefit at times. In a two man system I can look right at a runner touching a base and can't always tell that he did. But if it looks close enough it's a neighborhood touch. I always ask myself, "am I sure enough for an appeal?", and 80% of the time the answer is NO.

[mcrowder]

The neighborhood play at 2nd should not be called in FED ball or in non-MLB OBR ball either. Only at levels where they don't call interference on a retired runner for trying to break up a DP should the neighborhood call be used.

At any other level, the fielder should be able to hit the bag and move without fear of being run over.