when to tag up on a tipped catch....

deeno27 · #1 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 12:28pm

Here's the scoop....

R1, R3, batter hits fly ball to LF. LF taps ball (unintentionally while attempting to catch it) with glove. The ball went up, and LC caught the ball.

At what point can R3 tag-up? Is it when the catch is made, or when the ball contacts the glove of the LF?

Thanks,
Diana

Thanks for the big welcome, too! I'm a 2nd year umpire and I'm THRILLED to have found this site. I love officating softball--can't believe I get paid for having so much fun!

Dakota · #2 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 12:40pm

First touch - when the fielder first touches the ball, the runners may leave.

Del-Blue · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 12:42pm

Diana,

The base runners may tag up as soon as the ball is first touched.

Imagin this. Winning run on third ,fly ball hit to outfield, outfielder camps under the ball and instead of catching the ball s/he taps the ball in the air the whole time s/he is working their way into the infield. The runner would be stuck on third if the ball had to be caught before the tag. Therefore as soon as the ball is first touched the runner is released.

Bob

P.S. Welcome aboard, I know you will gain much from these boards. Do you work only slowpitch, or do you work fastpitch also.

bluezebra · #4 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 01:57pm

That was a common practice in the "early earlies" of baseball. When the rules makers realized how unfair it was to the offense, the rule was rewritten. Just as with the Infield Fly Rule.

Bob

deeno27 · #5 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 07:46pm

Another ump told me that Jose~ Conseco was known for tapping fly balls intentionally like that.

This was my first summer officiating FP (9-14 year olds). 1 man system (I mean 1 woman system in my case

). It was a challenge, but I did get asked to come back next year.

Thanks for the help.
Diana

Gulf Coast Blue · #6 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 21, 2002, 09:44pm

Congrats Diana.............

Officiating up to 14 yo's is extemely difficult with only 1 umpire............I am sure you learned a lot about your family history during that time............

Stay with it............you will have a lot of fun........

Sounds like you have the right attitude to make a good official (can't believe you are being paid to do it!!).....

Joel

BTW.......Jose Conseco........is best known for losing a fly ball and allowing it to bounce off of his head and over the fence for a 4 base award...........never make it into the hall of fame............grin

[Edited by Gulf Coast Blue on Aug 21st, 2002 at 09:46 PM]