Stepping on the Plate

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

We had a similar situation in a FP game. Bottom of 5 in a timed game. Home is down by 3 with two outs and a runner on 2B. Coach yells to R1 to step off of 2B so they can get to the next inning.

It was suggested that this would fall under the unsportsmanlike rules. I was a little ambivolent, as I 'understood' the strategy taking place.

I thought it would be a little more 'pruden't to be covert about the instruction. Maybe a signal. Maybe ask for an offensive conference and instruct the runner.

Sometimes defense is the best offense. In my case and the OP, it appears that getting to the next inning was more prudent than observing the spirit of the rules.

But, the OP, if properly called, wouldn't have done a thing to get them to the next inning.

Your case is something totally different. In your case, there WAS an infraction of the rules. i.e. the runner leaving before the release of the pitch. That results in an out being called and subsequently, a new inning.