Tie goes to runner?

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Some think its a rule that tie goes to the runner; and some umpires call a game that way too. But in reality, thats wrong. Rule says the batter MUST BEAT the ball to the bag; meaning a tie would be an out. Simple.

PLEASE stop saying the rules clearly say the batter must beat the ball to the bag. You are wrong. Read this rule:

6.05(j) A batter is out when after a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base.

Now, assuming English is your mother tongue, I hope you can see that a literal reading of this rule would suggest that a "tie," i.e., the batter or first base is tagged AT THE SAME TIME he touches first base, would NOT satisfy this rule's requirement for the batter being out.

Simple.

There are no ties in umpiring; the runner is either out or safe. But please, please do not base your argument in support of this reality on the wording of the rules. It's been pointed out repeatedly in this thread, yet several pages into this thread you're still citing "the rules" in support of your claim that a tie is always an out.

It ain't so. Please, stop saying it is.