Runner dives over catcher on tag play

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

As a OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA registered baseball umpire I know the rule. BUT!!

I watched the play at least five times and each time I saw the Catcher take the throw while on his knees and spin to his left in an effort to make a sweep tag on the Runner. At the same time the Runner, in an effort to avoid being tagged on his foot attempted to slow down and his momemtum causes his upper body to keep moving forward while the Catcher's body continues to move under the his body and the Runner's body goes flying over the Catcher's body. It looked ugly but I do not believe the intent or spirit of the rule was violated.

MTD, Sr.

[scrounge]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

As a OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA registered baseball umpire I know the rule. BUT!!

I watched the play at least five times and each time I saw the Catcher take the throw while on his knees and spin to his left in an effort to make a sweep tag on the Runner. At the same time the Runner, in an effort to avoid being tagged on his foot attempted to slow down and his momemtum causes his upper body to keep moving forward while the Catcher's body continues to move under the his body and the Runner's body goes flying over the Catcher's body. It looked ugly but I do not believe the intent or spirit of the rule was violated.

MTD, Sr.

That's a level of Zaprudering that I just can't do. He dove headfirst over a fielder attempting a play, violating the letter, spirit, and intent of the rule IMO. Out.

[UMP45]

I've got nothing. The throw takes the fielder in to the runner..

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by UMP45

I've got nothing. The throw takes the fielder in to the runner..

That doesn't allow him to dive over the tag. He's out, by rule.

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

As a OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA registered baseball umpire I know the rule. BUT!!

I watched the play at least five times and each time I saw the Catcher take the throw while on his knees and spin to his left in an effort to make a sweep tag on the Runner. At the same time the Runner, in an effort to avoid being tagged on his foot attempted to slow down and his momemtum causes his upper body to keep moving forward while the Catcher's body continues to move under the his body and the Runner's body goes flying over the Catcher's body. It looked ugly but I do not believe the intent or spirit of the rule was violated.

MTD, Sr.

I called obstruction on Saturday, I don't believe the fielder intended to violate the spirit of the rule, but I called it anyway. AND it was way ugly.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

As a OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA registered baseball umpire I know the rule. BUT!!

I watched the play at least five times and each time I saw the Catcher take the throw while on his knees and spin to his left in an effort to make a sweep tag on the Runner. At the same time the Runner, in an effort to avoid being tagged on his foot attempted to slow down and his momemtum causes his upper body to keep moving forward while the Catcher's body continues to move under the his body and the Runner's body goes flying over the Catcher's body. It looked ugly but I do not believe the intent or spirit of the rule was violated.

MTD, Sr.

That was about as blatant a case of diving over a player as I've ever seen.

[UMP45]

It's almost like he was tripped.

[jicecone]

Looking over the video several times, I can say for sure that the view from 1BX was definitly different than the view would have been from 3BX.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Looking over the video several times, I can say for sure that the view from 1BX was definitly different than the view would have been from 3BX.

He shouldn't have been 1BLX, BU w/ R2 was working B on a batted ball that nearly hits R2.

Not a lot of great things there.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

He shouldn't have been 1BLX, BU w/ R2 was working B on a batted ball that nearly hits R2.

Not a lot of great things there.

OP says partners.

So probably 3-man. B is correct for U1 in a 3-man with 1 out and R2+R3.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rich

OP says partners.

So probably 3-man. B is correct for U1 in a 3-man with 1 out and R2+R3.

Not to mention that BU's position (whether right or wrong) has nothing to do with PU's positioning on a play at the plate.

Now, on a ball to the infield and then directly back to the plate, PU should (generally) step straight back from the point of the plate -- too many default to going to 1BX immediately. Where he ended up, though, was probably a better view of the tag attempt than from 3BX (ignoring the diving here).