Contact at First

[dmore]

What is the ruling regarding contact between a base runner and the first baseman. The question is centered on a batter-runner correctly running in that 3 foot wide area to the right of the fair/foul line and the the throw to the first baseman pulls them across into the lane where the batter is running. Kind of a catch the ball, batter runner runs into the first baseman, first baseman drops the ball. what is the call?

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by dmore

What is the ruling regarding contact between a base runner and the first baseman. The question is centered on a batter-runner correctly running in that 3 foot wide area to the right of the fair/foul line and the the throw to the first baseman pulls them across into the lane where the batter is running. Kind of a catch the ball, batter runner runs into the first baseman, first baseman drops the ball. what is the call?

Safe. Provided, of course, the runner stays on or gets back to the bag before F3 picks up the ball and tags him.

[JRutledge]

I have got nothing. The players were both doing what they were supposed to do and there was contact.

Peace

[tibear]

Looks like a trainwreck to me, so play on!

[johnnyg08]

so in this situation...if the runner misses 1st base...assuming we still have a train wreck...we still have nothing as long as the runner gets back to first base...or we have an appeal play in this situation...assuming the runner falls, flies over, or sails past 1B...F3 simply touching 1B as a "force out" wouldn't qualify as a valid appeal right?? Let's go FED rules. What are your thoughts guys??

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

so in this situation...if the runner misses 1st base...assuming we still have a train wreck...we still have nothing as long as the runner gets back to first base...or we have an appeal play in this situation...assuming the runner falls, flies over, or sails past 1B...F3 simply touching 1B as a "force out" wouldn't qualify as a valid appeal right?? Let's go FED rules. What are your thoughts guys??

As everyone else (up to this point) has said, "play on" -- that means ignore teh colission and enforce all the other rules, including those on BR passing, but missing, first.

[PeteBooth]

Unfortunately, in amateur baseball these days, whenever there is contact, the coaches / players / fans/ etc. want something called.

Contrary to popular belief, baseball is not void of contact.

As others mentioned in your thread it is comonly referred to as a "train wreck" and unless one of the parties did "something extra" there is no call.

You cannot expect F3 to just allow the ball to go by him (and possibly into DBT) without making a play on the ball. Also, you cannot expect B1 to simply STOP and allow F3 to field an errant throw and then get called out for not running through the bag.

Each is doing what they are supposed to, hence a NO call.

Pete Booth

[LMan]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

so in this situation...if the runner misses 1st base...assuming we still have a train wreck...we still have nothing as long as the runner gets back to first base...or we have an appeal play in this situation...assuming the runner falls, flies over, or sails past 1B...F3 simply touching 1B as a "force out" wouldn't qualify as a valid appeal right?? Let's go FED rules. What are your thoughts guys??

Correct. When the B/R's body passes 1B, signal 'safe', await developments. In FED, if the fielder makes an unmistakable appeal by his actions/words, the runner is out if he hasnt gotten back to 1B before he's tagged or the base is touched.

But it has to be a clear appeal. The fielder just casually/accidentally stepping on 1B as he's returning to ball to the pitcher won't do.

[mcrowder]

True story: A sitch very much like this one - F3 and BR collide. Ball gets away about 10 yards down the right field fence and comes to a stop. BR misses first base, practically flying over it.

Defense's coaches erupt. "He missed the bag!!!" more than once. Coaches looking like they are going to come pouring out of the dugout, me with the stop sign. F3 is yelling at my BU, standing on the bag and even stomping on the bag repeatedly, also saying, "He missed the base!!!" BR is hurt, but gets back to the bag. Coaches now want to come to yell at us (not sure which of us... probably both). Now one of them is yelling, "Time!" in increasing volume, getting frustrated with my stop sign. OFFENSIVE coach now asks for Time as well to tend to the injured runner.

Reluctantly, I call TIME.

Defensive coaches come blazing out, "You've gotta call that! We had the appeal in time!" etc. BU just looks at me about to laugh at these jokers, and calmly looks back at the coaches and points at the ball ... still up the right field line by the fence. Little puppy coaches skulk back to their cage.

I bought BU a beer that evening for his completely deadpan reaction. It was perfect.

[justanotherblue]

Sounds like you both had a good Ringling Brothers circus going there for a minute. .....seeing coach jaw hit the ground hit with the realization he's wrong again...priceless.

As for the original post...safe...that's nothing...play on