This Just Seemed Odd...from rule aficionado/lurker

[More Cowbell]

MDL...I was wondering the same thing...if the runner, on the way to the dugout happened to step on home (on purpose or not), would he have kept to his guns and allowed the run? My gut feeling is no..it was the home team that made the put out, with much yelling "tag him, tag him"...and the kid at third was the go ahead run..with no outs.

To me, this is much different than "they forgot how many outs there were" and left the field or the like. There was certain and clear direction, and the ump later said "I told both sides we were batting the line up."

(BTW the next kid up got a single that would have scored the kid at third...and we lost 6-5 on two errors in the bottom half of the inning...not germane to the post, but that's just how the baseball gods work sometimes.)

Again, thanks for the perspective.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by More Cowbell

To me, this is much different than "they forgot how many outs there were" and left the field or the like.

To me, it's identical to that. Meaning - in NEITHER case should the umpire be speaking to influence play - and if they do, they need to kill it to do so. (If "they forgot how many outs there were", umpire should not be yelling, "Hey, there are only 2 outs everyone" unless play has stopped on its own.)

[More Cowbell]

MDL,
Agreed...both cases ump should be mum; I meant that the context was different. Kids forgetting how many outs is different than both teams thinking one set of rules were in play. I wouldn't have a problem "stealing" a run because defense forgot the outs; I would not want a run that was scored because of confusion and misunderstanding.

(Does that make sense?) I think this forum should be required reading for all coaches, and parents for that matter. I enjoy the spirited debate you guys get into, and I have learned tons in several sports.