Once the runner stops at a base for any reason

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Dakota

ASA Rule 8-7-T-2 is partially quoted in the title...

Situation being discussed on the Fed board, and I don't remember it ever coming up before.

One out, runner on 1B. B hits a long fly ball to LF. R1 is between 2B & 3B when the ball is caught. R1 returns to 1B, but misses 2B along the way. The defense returns the ball to F1 in the circle, who holds the ball not making any play while the runner is returning to touch 2B. The runner touches 2B and immediately heads back toward 1B.

Did the runner's touch of 2B constitute a stop at 2B, and is the runner now out on a look-back violation?

My reasoning is even though the runner (by the laws of physics if nothing else) did technically stop (in order to reverse direction), she did not stop AT the base, she just reversed direction, so it is not a LBR violation.

Consider this variation: R1, in returning to touch 2B, overruns slightly and THEN reverses direction. That, clearly, would not be a LBR violation.

Dakota:

I am going to say that the LBR does not apply here because the runner is doing what she is supposed be doing per rule. BUT, my question why isn't F1 throwing to F3 to retire the runner (active appeal, the umpires do not need to be notified by F1; F1 is giving the runner a free pass to return to first base.

MTD, Sr.