Base on Balls
 

No outs runners on first and second,3-0 count on the batter,
on the next pitch both runners take off, pitch is ball 4.
Runner on second breaking for third slides past the bag at 3,
catcher throws to third and 3rd. baseman tags runner, is runner safe or out?

boss21,

Let's see...

The R2 has already completed his award and is tagged while off his base.

I'm going with OUT!

JM

The only reason somebody might think he's safe would be the erroneous idea that a BB is a dead ball award.

100% out. In terms of mechanics, your timing will be important here so you don't have to make two different calls on the same play.

A very similar play happened to Kerwin Danley in Oakland (vs. NYY) 10 to 12 years ago.

R1, three balls to batter, two outs. R1 takes off and slides. He overslid second base and Jeter put the tag on him. Danley just put his hands up and said "it was ball four" (or words to that effect). Jeter then pointed out that R1 had overslid the bag. Danley had the look of "oh my god, you're right" and banged the runner out.

I've seen this play on tape several times.

Of course, what he was supposed to do was watch the play as it happened. Then, call it accordingly.

If R1 doesn't overslide, then just say "It was Ball Four."
If R1 does overslide or come off the base after touching it, call the out.

Even the pros mess up the simplest of calls sometimes. Just to clarify, to me, this is a simple call.

I think we all agree that it's a simple call...but the mechanics are important so that we can make it look like we know what we are doing too. The Danley example was a good one to post.

OBR: Rule 7.04(b) Comment: A runner forced to advance without liability to be put out may advance past the base to which he is entitled only at his peril.

Out, but can't see the logic behind double steal on 3-0 count...

Element of surprise? :cool:

Intentional Base on Balls?
 

What would happen if the runner was past the bag on an Intentional Base on Balls? That could be the mix up here.

In FED (and NAIA?), an IBB is a dead ball, so there's no "tag" to be made if a runner goes past the base.

In other codes, it's a live ball, so the same rules apply -- runners move past the bag at their own peril.

Bob -

In NAIA, I have no pitches required, ball stays live.

Probably right. I work only a couple of NAIA games a year, and pull out the rules just before those games.