Home Run or?

[UmpJM]

For an in-depth treatment of the subject of "God Rules" in baseball, see:

http://search.officiating.com/?q=Divine+Right&x=16&y=12

JM

[SanDiegoSteve]

The "God" Rule is indeed 9.01(c). It gives the umpire authority to rule on things that occur that are not covered specifically within the rules. In using this rule, there had better be no specific manner of dealing with the occurrence within the confines of the rulebook, or one cannot invoke this rule.

3.16 is not a "God" rule, as it lays down specific criteria for determining the call. Just because it requires umpire judgment as to where to place a runner, it does not give him any latitude as to the manner that he rules. It is specifically stated in the rules how he must rule. He must designate a number of bases to award. He can't, for instance, say, "go back two spaces, hop over the base on one foot, and scream ooga-booga!" He cannot just make up a ruling when using a specific rule.

[tibear]

I do recall a game where Ricky Henderson was involved with two outs where the batter hit the ball to third base. F5 picked up the ball and threw wildly to first that got by the first baseman, subsequently a fan reached over and picked up the ball at the fence.

The umpires got together and put the BR at second and gave Henderson home because they felt he would have easily scored if the fan didn't interfere even though the rules specifically indicate that Henderson should have gotten third.

[UmpJM]

SD Steve,

While there are certainly specific criteria for when 3.16 is invoked, there are no specific criteria for determining the ruling to make. It is the most general criteria of making whatever ruling "...nullifies the act...".

tibear,

Where do you get the idea that there is a specific award (i.e. 2 bases) specified for the sitch you cite - there isn't one.

JM

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The "God" Rule is indeed 9.01(c). It gives the umpire authority to rule on things that occur that are not covered specifically within the rules. In using this rule, there had better be no specific manner of dealing with the occurrence within the confines of the rulebook, or one cannot invoke this rule.

3.16 is not a "God" rule, as it lays down specific criteria for determining the call. Just because it requires umpire judgment as to where to place a runner, it does not give him any latitude as to the manner that he rules. It is specifically stated in the rules how he must rule. He must designate a number of bases to award. He can't, for instance, say, "go back two spaces, hop over the base on one foot, and scream ooga-booga!" He cannot just make up a ruling when using a specific rule.

It's a "he gets to decide" rule because there are NO specific awards. He has all the latitude he wants - 1 base - 3 bases, no bases - whatever.