2 OBR Questions

[Reffing Rev.]

I don't work any OBR games, but saw a town v. town game using OBR tonight and I've got two questions.

Runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out, fly ball between pitcher and catcher, Infield Fly Called by PU. Ball drops. Runner on 1st takes off towards 2nd while runner on 2nd knowing the situation never left the base. Catcher threw the ball over 3rd baseman and out of play. What is the award?

Bottom of 5th first batter up grounds to pitcher who throws ball quickly to 1st, ball pops out of glove, first baseman goes into foul territory retrieves ball and has a foot race back to base. Firstbasemen dives and touches orange base with ball in glove just before batter-runner touches white base. You make the call.

[UmpJM]

Reffin Rev,

1. It is a 2 base award from the runners' position at the time the pitcher initiated his delivery (Time Of Pitch (TOP)).

The R2 is awarded home and the R1 is awarded 3B. The BR is out on the IFF.

2. Depends on the rule code. OBR does not provide for a "safety base" at 1B. Under rule codes I have seen, the defense may not obtain an out by tagging the orange (i.e. "safety") base.

JM

[Rich Ives]

Some safety base rules say that on a play at first the runner must touch the colored base and the fielder must touch the white base - UNLESS the play gets "switched" to the foul side (like in your play or an uncaught third strike play) in which case they can switch bases.

If this is how they were playing then it's an out in your play.

Some say the batter-runner mus always use the colored base when there's a play at first and the fielder must always use the white base.

If this is the case then it's not an out, but the runner has missed first and can be out on appeal.