Babe Ruth Follies

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

The mechanic on this play is often described as "The umpire signals safe ...". I think this is wrong. The mechanic should be, "The umpire does whatever he would do if the runner had touched the bag." Now, it's consistent with the runner going to 2B, etc -- we're not tipping off either side, nor calling something that doesn't need to be called.

In practice, the play at first is "close enough" that we'd normally give a "relaxed" safe signal -- so that's what we should do when the runner misses the bag.

I think BigUmp56 already gave the professional interpretation, which is the same one I use in all of my games. Why do you disagree with the authoritative opinion and accepted mechanic?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I think BigUmp56 already gave the professional interpretation, which is the same one I use in all of my games. Why do you disagree with the authoritative opinion and accepted mechanic?

I already explained my opinion on this -- whenever a runner misses a base, we should act just as we would have acted had the runner touched the base (with the exception of a tag play at home when both the tag and the touch are missed). That way, we avoid telling either side that there was a missed base.

Some umpires get in the habit of pointing at the base (especially home) when a runner touches it. When they don't point, it tips off the defense. So we (I think all of us) would try to get the umpire to break the habit.

On a close play at first, where BR beats the throw, I signal safe. So, I'd signal safe if BR misses the base (but beats the throw).

On a not-close play at first (maybe F3 celarly drops the ball), we (at least I) don't signal safe. So, if BR misses the base, I won't change to signal safe.