runner returned to first after foul ball

[upprdeck]

runners on first and third, runner on first takes off , pitcher is watching runner on 3rd and holds the ball. runner reaches and rounds 2nd base, pitcher then starts the motion to throw home.

ball is then fouled off and runner is told to return to first.

just doesnt seem right to penalize the offense

[mbyron]

He gets to stay at 2B.

[upprdeck]

that is what i would have argued as well, i just wasnt sure where in the rule book it was covered.. i have never seen a runner get that far off a base before a pitch..

[teccan9nja]

If the runner had got to second before the pitch was released, I'd say he had stolen second and return him there. My thought is where you are when the pitch is released is where you go back to on a foul ball.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

If the runner had got to second before the pitch was released, I'd say he had stolen second and return him there. My thought is where you are when the pitch is released is where you go back to on a foul ball.

If the runner attains the base before the time the pitcher starts his motion. He has legally acquired that base. The release of the pitch is non-relevant in this scenario.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

If the runner attains the base before the time the pitcher starts his motion. He has legally acquired that base. The release of the pitch is non-relevant in this scenario.

The Time of the Pitch is not necessarily the time he starts his motion. In this case, the pitcher came to the Set Position prior to R1 attaining 2nd, but the TOP did not occur until he committed to home plate, which is why the runner got to stay at 2nd. Had it been the Windup Position, then the TOP would be when he started his motion, and R1 would have had to return to 1st.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

If the runner had got to second before the pitch was released, I'd say he had stolen second and return him there. My thought is where you are when the pitch is released is where you go back to on a foul ball.

Your "thought" is irrelevant. And wrong. What's the definition? Cite the rule.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

If the runner had got to second before the pitch was released, I'd say he had stolen second and return him there. My thought is where you are when the pitch is released is where you go back to on a foul ball.

It's where you were at the time of the pitch.

The time of the pitch is when the pitcher's movements/motion commit him to pitch.

In this case the runner stole second BUT it was because he got there before the time of the pitch.