Can forced runner retreat along baseline?

[UmpTTS43]

Somewhat related. Don't have books on me but could someone give me the reference for OBR saying it is legal for BR to retreat towards 1st. I know where it is in NCAA, but not in OBR.

Thanks

[UmpJM]

UmpTT,

I presume you meant to say a "BR to retreat towards Home Plate", rather than 1B?

If so, it's in the MLBUM (nothing is said on the subject in the text of the rules themselves).

NOTE: In situations where the batter-runner gets in a rundown between first and home, if the batter-runner retreats and reaches home plate, he shall be declared out.

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

UmpTT,

I presume you meant to say a "BR to retreat towards Home Plate", rather than 1B?

If so, it's in the MLBUM (nothing is said on the subject in the text of the rules themselves).



JM

Would not be a lot of point to doing it unless defense has completely forgotten about other runners and they are advancing like crazy while BR backs up toward HP. But it has to end somewhere, so thus the ruling.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UmpTTS43

Somewhat related. Don't have books on me but could someone give me the reference for OBR saying it is legal for BR to retreat towards 1st. I know where it is in NCAA, but not in OBR.

Thanks

If it were illegal, it would be stated as such in the rules. As no rule prohibits it, the MLBUM interpretation is used to determine at what point to declare the runner out.

[johnnyg08]

Yep, remember, if it's not in there, it's probably not illegal.

[UmpTTS43]

Thanks JM. I knew I read it somewhere.