I saw it out of the corener of my eye.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

When you're working the plate in a gmae involving older kids, do you not know when R1 (or R2 or R3) is stealing, while the ball is still on the way to the plate? Wouldn't this be the same type of call?

Sure, I know if a runner is stealing. But, I would have no way of knowing if he left the base before the pitcher released. It is physically impossible to see the pitcher's hand and the runner's foot at 1B at the same time and the PU that is trying to do it would will miss a lot of pitches.

Serious softball umpires would be busting a gut at this discussion. The rule for this is the same. They would never dream of trying to call a runner leaving early from behind the plate-ESPECIALLY one at first.