Unwritten rules

[Jay R]

Men's League. Home team is up 8-0. Visitors have R1 and F3 is not holding R1 on. R1 steals second and the home team is upset. I can't understand their logic. First of all they're up in the game so the visitors are not embarassing them. And secondly, if you choose not to hold the runner, aren't you saying that it's OK to steal. Am I missing something?

[bob jenkins]

The problem with unwritten rules is that everyone has his own list of when they apply.

I agree with you in this instance.

[ozzy6900]

Unwritten rules - like "home" rules - are for fools!

[MD Longhorn]

Kind of a stupid unwritten rule at that. I've been involved in more than 1, and umpired WAY more than one (and witnessed exactly 1 at the MLB level) comeback of more than 8 runs. 8-0 is not "game over".

[aceholleran]

I saw a similar sitch in a HS game. Visitors up by a good 10-12 runs. With R2 only, home team F1 goes into a full windup. R2 steals 3B.

Home skip has a conniption and starts jawing at visiting skip, who said, "My kid just reacted to the windup. They're taught to do that."

With that, I quelled the tiff. But I kinda sided with the visiting coach.

Ace in CT