Steal and Foul Play

[Kevin88]

This may be a stupid question to some of you veterans...but I had this and it kind of dumbfounded me...[LIST]
The situation: Runners of 1st and 3rd...R1 steals 2nd very early and pitcher ignores him. R1 reaches second before the pitch. The pitch is fouled away.
My question: R1 obtained 2nd before the pitch...Does he have to return to 1st on the foul ball or does he stay?
My Ruling: Return to 1st
Thanks for your help

[greymule]

The answer depends on the exact meaning of "before the pitch."

[Kevin88]

The pitcher was set on the rubber...but had not started his motion

[Tommy P]

The runner had to have legally touched 2nd before the pitcher committed himself to pitch.

I would doubt it, but could happen. I read this play in the BRD I think.

FED 2-28.3 as a reference to Time of Pitch.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin88

The pitcher was set on the rubber...but had not started his motion

You mean that he was in the "set" position, not set. Set is what you are when you bring your hands together in front of your body and come to a complete stop. The set position is the position you take prior to starting your motion.

If the pitcher had not yet started his motion at the time R1 touched second base safely, he gets to stay there since he arrived before the official TOP (time of pitch), which is when the pitcher starts his delivery motion.

So, you "blue" the call.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Kevin88

The pitcher was set on the rubber...but had not started his motion

If R1 had obtained 2B before the pitcher started his motion towards home (Time Of Pitch) you should have left the runner at 2B.

[SanDiegoSteve]

When I saw the thread title, I was picturing a movie with Peter Sellers, Chevy Chase, and Goldie Hawn.

[Kevin88]

Ahhh....What are ya gonna do....I bull$hitted my way through it... coaches didn't even think twice.