Speaking of

[Bfair]

Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
Perhaps you've got a different 8.2.5A than I have. Mine states:

RULING: a runner may not return to a base that he left to soon on a caught fly ball if he was on or beyond a succeeding base when the ball became dead... Upon proper appeal, R1 Shall be called out. If no proper appeal is made by the defense, R1 will be awarded third base. (play involved R1 leaving 1st before the catch was made and being between 2nd and 3rd when the ball is thrown out of play ==> 1st plus 2 bases for the overthrow is ... awarded 3rd.)

I don't see any way that I'm going to let the offense walk backwards around the bases during a dead ball.

Tony, this same issue was discussed in a private forum last year which had a state interpreter as a member. The intepreter spoke with the hierarchy of Fed in Indianapolis and responded the return would be considered "illegitimate" (preferred over the term "illegal"), but would be allowed to occur. The defense, of course, retains their right to appeal the baserunning infraction that was not legitimately corrected, and the official should uphold the appeal if made properly. This is further supported by Kyle McNeely, advisor to Fed rules committee, in a play presented in his article here at eUmpire:

B1 homers. While slapping palms with his first base coach (didn't we do this already?), he steps over the base. After he rounds second, the coach screams: "Hey, Blue, he missed first." The runner retouches second, touches first, touches second, and continues his trot. Ruling: You say nothing, for the appeal cannot be accept until B1 finishes his award. Afterwards, if the coach does not repeat his appeal, the run counts!

Note that the illegitimate return is allowed and the onus is on the defense to later appeal after the runner has completed accepting his award.

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Due to a ball going to DBT the official must make an award to this runner on or beyond 2B before accepting an appeal. The other issue discussed at the same time dealt with which base this runner's award would be based from. Normally, after any throw from an outfielder going to DBT the award is based from TOT. However, rule 8-3-5 also states:

When a runner, who is returning to touch a base after a batted ball has been caught [my emphasis] is prevented from doing so because a thrown live ball has become dead (5-1 -1 g), his award shall be from the base he occupied at the time of the pitch.

So the question arises in this situation where is the award based from if the runner is not attempting return at the time the ball goes to DBT? What if the runner was continuing to third, stopped at 2B, or merely stopped in the basepath abandoning any effort to return---feeling the attempt to return was hopeless from that position. Does the action of the runner actually attempting a return determine which from which base his award will be made?

The state interpreter verified with Indianapolis that, indeed, the rule is written as they desire, and the action of the runner does determine from what location the award is based. I’m told, however, that Childress in interviewing McNeely directed this same question to Kyle whose response was that it would be based from TOP---period. Childress considers his interview response from McNeely as a higher source level than that of a state interpreter. Yet, Childress is also aware that the state interpreter received his response from a higher source than McNeely. So, which ruling should we accept since they are in contradiction?

As for myself, until I hear further I will make my ruling based on the obvious nature of the return. That is, if it’s evident that the runner obviously left 1B early, then I’ll award based on TOP. If not obvious and the runner is not returning, I’ll award based on TOT. IOW, I’ll not allow my award to tip off the defense that a running infraction has occurred. Perhaps that’s a rogue ruling that both is and is not supported by rule and ruling, yet I feel it is the ruling that is in accordance with the spirit and intent of the rule.

Although a third world play, I faced this situation last spring in a Fed tourney game when an errant throw to retire R1, who had not retouched and who remained standing on 2B, entered the 1B dugout. I awarded the runner 3B only. Although the defense was well aware of R1’s obvious infraction, they never later appealed. They must have felt that the award negated their right to appeal---who knows…………


Freix

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