Help me win a bet

bob jenkins · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 08:33am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Has anyone ever seen this play occur at a level beyond tee ball? In over 30 years of umpiring, I have never seen the BR miss first base on this play.

Enjoy your season and be safe.

Twice in college, twice in HS.

And, one appeal in college, but the runner had touched first.

BretMan · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 08:52am

Had this come up once in a high school game last season and that's the only time I can remember having to deal with it.

Nobody on, me in "A", ground ball on the infield. On the batter-runner's last stride, he stepped over the base. His foot missed the bag and landed on the outfield side of first just a couple of clicks before the throw got there.

I signalled "safe". The runner returned to first with no appeal. Then the fun started...

Defensive coach wants to discuss play with me. He wants an out because "the runner didn't touch first base". Tried to explain that it's an appeal play and it's too late to appeal once the runner has safely returned to first base.

He's not buying it, so he goes crying to the plate umpire. Plate guy (first year umpire) comes out to me and tells me he had the runner missing the base. No kidding! So I explain to him how it works. He seems sceptical, so I tell him it's my call, I'm sticking with it and we'll discuss it after the game, Which we did...

bob jenkins · #3 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 08:56am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretMan

His foot missed the bag and landed on the outfield side of first just a couple of clicks before the throw got there.

This brings up a good point that I meant to mention earlier. The general interp is that the runner hasn't passed the base until he's entirely (trailing foot) past the base.

dileonardoja · #4 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 10:09am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

This brings up a good point that I meant to mention earlier. The general interp is that the runner hasn't passed the base until he's entirely (trailing foot) past the base.

Interesting! So hypothetically the lead foot passes the bag, then the throw is caught, then the trail foot steps over the bag (missing it). The signal is Out?

dash_riprock · #5 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 10:13am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dileonardoja

Interesting! So hypothetically the lead foot passes the bag, then the throw is caught, then the trail foot steps over the bag (missing it). The signal is Out?

Correct. The B/R has not yet acquired the base so the play at 1st is not an appeal.

MikeStrybel · #6 (**permalink**) Sun Mar 20, 2011, 10:22am

I guess I work games where the base coaches are actually aware of what is happening. In all my years, I have never witnessed a player run by first base and the coach didn't yell for him to touch it. The closest I ever came was when the shortstop hung the firstbaseman out down the line. The two collided and the BR rolled past the base and into foul territory. sure enough, the first base coach was screaming for him to collect himself and hit the bag before the pitcher, who had by now recovered the ball, tagged him. He did and I was deprived of another example of our crazy game at work.

Clouds and 40 for the first game this Wednesday...up from the original 38 forecast. Break out the sunblock!