FED interpretation

[David Emerling]

I just came back from one of our mandatory state association meetings (high school) and an issue was raised and the gentleman running the show said that this was a *new* FED interpretation. I was wondering if anybody in this forum can confirm or verify this.

I can best explain this with an example:

R1, less than 2 outs. Long shot hit out into rightfield. R1 is convinced ball will drop and takes off running. He rounds 2nd when F9 makes a great catch. R1 is more than halfway to 3rd but now puts on the brakes and is attempting to scamper back to 1st, via 2nd. F9 fires the ball to 1st in an attempt to double R1 up. But the ball sails over F3's head and out-of-play. At the time of F9's release, R1 had not yet reached 2nd but was heading back.

The "new" interpretation, supposedly is this:

Normally, R1 could *not* safely get back to 1st since he had already touched 2nd and had not retraced past 2nd before F9's release. But! (Here comes the new interpetation) Since, at the time of F9's release, F1 was *attempting* to get back, he should be allowed to return to 1st. He could then be awarded 3rd without risk of being subject to appeal. Had he *not* been heading back to correct his baserunning error at the time of F9's release, then his fate would be sealed and retouching 1st would do him no good. He would then be subject to an appeal whether he does or does not retouch 1st.

Is this true???

Thanks!

[Bfair]

Dave, first off, the time of the release of the throw that eventually goes to DBT will impact only an award. That is, the legality of R1's return is not dependent upon the time of the release, but rather it's dependent on his loctation at the time the ball touches DBT. There's a difference.

Although the Fed cleaned up some wording in their rule and caseplay, the application has not changed from last year. If R1 is "on or beyond" his advance base at the time that the ball becomes dead, then he cannot legally return, and would be declared out upon appeal. Should R1 be on or beyond his advance base at the time the ball becomes dead, you would not stop him from attempting his return. His return to retouch 1B, should he make it, is truly illegitimate. But should he return and retouch before accepting his award due to the ball going to DBT, then the defense may still appeal his illegitimate return to gain the out. However, if the defense does not know the rule, sees the return and thinks the runner has legitimately retouched, and fails to make an appeal, then R1 will be allowed to keep his awarded bases.

There was no caseplay or interpretation as you cite for last year.
There is a question, however, that arises based upon the runner's "attempting return" at the time the ball goes to DBT, and that deals with whether the 2 base award to R1 would be from base occupied at TOP or location of runner at TOT. The actual writing of the rule states that the basis of where the base is awarded from is based upon the action of R1 at the time the ball becomes dead. If he attempting return after a catch, then the award is 2 bases from TOP. If he is not attempting return after the catch, then the award is 2 bases from TOT.

Please note that Childress and I have had significant debate regarding the basis of the award under Fed interpretation. I can direct you to that old thread if you desire.

What you truly need to be aware of is:

1. Where is the runner at the time a throw goes to DBT
   
2. Was he attempting to return after a catch at the time the ball touched DBT
   
3. If not attempting return, where was the runner at TOT

Just my opinion,

Freix




[Edited by Bfair on Feb 6th, 2003 at 12:22 AM]

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by David Emerling

Normally, R1 could *not* safely get back to 1st since he had already touched 2nd and had not retraced past 2nd before F9's release. But! (Here comes the new interpetation) Since, at the time of F9's release, F1 was *attempting* to get back, he should be allowed to return to 1st. He could then be awarded 3rd without risk of being subject to appeal. Had he *not* been heading back to correct his baserunning error at the time of F9's release, then his fate would be sealed and retouching 1st would do him no good. He would then be subject to an appeal whether he does or does not retouch 1st.

David, the applicable citing is at the end of section 5. It's the Exception. FED rule 5-2-2 EXCEPTION:

A runner who is on or beyond a succeeding base when the ball became dead, or advances and touches a succeeding base after the ball became dead, may not return and shall be called out on proper appeal.

The TOT applies to base awards. The key question is" Where is the runner when the ball BECAME dead? not where he /she was when the outfielder threw it.

IMO, this is not a "new" citing but has always been there. The BIG difference is that before last year's appeal rule change, Blue would declare the runner out. Now, even though a runner can be declared out when he /she returns to touch a missed base when they were on or beyond a succedding base when the ball became dead, the defense has to appeal before we register the out. It's not an automatic anymore.

Pete Booth