misc questions

[UmpJM]

MDSooner,

1. Most likely legal, but it's at least possible that the pitcher could balk while doing this. For example...

a. If the pitcher stopped his motion prior to landing the step (not the throw, since he's not making a move to 1B) to a base ("hesitation balk" - failure to meet the "continuous motion" requirement on a move from the rubber).

b. If the pitcher's free foot had crossed the back plane of the rubber and then landed his step more towards 3B then 2B.

If he completed the step to 2B "smoothly" and then stopped & threw to 3B, he's fine.

2.

FED: Batter is out. If both of the player's feet entered DBT or he fell into DBT, ball is dead, any runners are awarded one base from their TOP base. Any runners who had left their TOP base prior to the first touch by the fielder would be required to retouch or be subject to an appeal by the defense.

OBR: If the player remains standing and does not enter a "spectator area" ball remains live and in play. Otherwise, same as FED.

3.

FED: The assisted runner is out and the ball is "delayed dead" - any outs obtained by the defense on the play stand. Any other runners return to the last base legally occupied at TOI. BR is out if the coach's interference occurs on a play where the batter became a runner and is put out by the defense on the continuous action of the play. If not, he is "awarded" 1B - even if he had reached an advance base on the action of the play.

OBR: The assisted runner is out, but the ball remains live and in play. Any outs or advances by other runners stand. Reading the rulebook Penalty for 7.09 would lead one to the logical conclusion that the ball is dead on a coach's interference in assisting a runner, but it's not.

JM