WS: Out of the Running Lane

[jmkupka]

I know we don't discuss the other sport here, but any comments about the last night's call (besides A-Rod's an idiot)?

https://youtu.be/vos0zr_KkNQ

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

I know we don't discuss the other sport here, but any comments about the last night's call (besides A-Rod's an idiot)?

https://youtu.be/vos0zr_KkNQ

Correct call by pro rules. A BR is allowed to exit the lane for the last step in order to touch first base as an exception to the runner's lane rule. But that last-step exception does NOT apply to a BR who runs the whole way to first outside the lane.

That's exactly what Turner did. He never entered the lane, so his being outside of it for that last step to touch the bag would not be allowed. If he ran to first in the lane and then stepped out for that last step before touching first, his hindering Gurriel at first base would not be a violation.

By the way, NCAA Softball has this same stipulation. Here's a play from the NCAA casebook:

A.R. 12-46. A slap bunt results in the ball quickly being scooped up by the catcher right in front of home plate. The catcher is ready to throw, but seeing the batter-runner in her way with one or both feet out of the runner's lane, she hesitates, eventually throwing accurately to first base but the throw:
(1) arrives late.
(2) hits the batter-runner two strides before the base.
(3) hits the batter-runner on her last stride before the base.
RULING: In (1), the batter-runner has not interfered if a fielder does not throw or hesitates before throwing. For interference to apply, the batter-runner must be guilty of interfering with the fielder taking the throw at first base. If the fielder does not throw, hesitates and then throws late, or makes an errant throw, it is not possible to determine if the fielder taking the throw would have been interfered with. For example, if the catcher throws the ball three feet above the outstretched glove of the first baseman, the batter-runner will be safe by virtue of the throwing error, not because of interference with the first baseman taking a throw.
In (2) and (3) the batter-runner is out because she interfered with the first baseman taking the throw at first base. In (3), the rule allows the batter-runner to leave the lane on her last stride in order to touch first base. If she has not been running in the runner's lane, this would not apply since she cannot leave the lane if she was not in the lane.

"3" is what Turner did, and we would need to make that same call in college softball play.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Correct call by pro rules. A BR is allowed to exit the lane for the last step in order to touch first base as an exception to the runner's lane rule. But that last-step exception does NOT apply to a BR who runs the whole way to first outside the lane.

Exactly my thoughts. Here is the rule from OBR:

5.09 Making an out
(a) Retiring the batter
11) In running the last half of the distance from home base to
first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he
runs outside (to the right of ) the three-foot line, or inside
(to the left of ) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment
in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at
first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he
may run outside (to the right of ) the three-foot line or
inside (to the left of ) the foul line to avoid a fielder
attempting to field a batted ball;

Rule 5.09 (a)(11) Comment:
The lines marking the three-foot
lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to
have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines mark-
ing the lane. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-
foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the imme-
diate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first
base.

The talking heads and most of the youtube sheep don't understand.

[jmkupka]

Thank you. the announcer (don't know who it was), really really wanted to side with the Nationals on this, and just couldn't bring himself to say outright that the PU got it right.