Safety base

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by Stu Clary

OK...but please cite a rule that suppoorts that.

I have been taught that the orange base is used by the batter/runner when trying the beat out a ground ball OR by the defense when the throw is coming from foul ground. I can point to specific places in the rulebook that support those two things. Otherwise, the orange/colored/foul portion of the double base is the same as dirt to me.

Maybe I'm a bonehead, but I still have safe.

Stu, hope this is enough of a citation for you as obviously mb's and Irish's detailed, rule supported, logical, and common sense based replies were not satisfactory enough for you.....

2010 ASA UMPIRE CLINIC GUIDE

Rule 2 FIELD
Double Base:Rule 2 Section 3H and Rule 8, Section 2M
The Double Base is mandatory for all divisions of play.

A) The double base will be 15 x 30 inches with half the base in fair territory and half in foul territory.

B) When using the double base, the following should be remembered:

1) When a play is being made on the batter-runner by any fielder the fielder must use the white portion (fair territory) and the batter-runner must use the contrasting color portion (foul territory) with the following exceptions:

2) On an errant throw pulling the defense into foul territory the defense can use the portion of the base in foul territory and the batter-runner can use the white portion of the base.

3) On any force out from the foul side of first base the batter-runner can use the white portion (fair territory) and the fielder can use the contrasting color portion (foul territory) of the base.

4) After the batter-runner has reached first base, BOTH the batter-runner AND the fielder can use either color of the base for ANY defensive or offensive play.

The Clinic Guide closes the section on the Double Base with this:
"Bottom line: Before the batter-runner reaches 1B and a play is being made the base is 15 in.X30 in. Once the batter-runner has reached 1B the base becomes 30 in. X 30 in."

[txump81]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Before the batter-runner reaches 1B and a play is being made the base is 15 in.X30 in. Once the batter-runner has reached 1B the base becomes 30 in. X 30 in."[/B]

30x30---Holy Toledo Batman That is one large base...or now we allow the neighborhood at 1B so this whole long argument is moot. It doesn't matter where you touch the base--just get close. So do you get 8in extra in front or in back or do you get the extra 15 in anywhere.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

The Clinic Guide closes the section on the Double Base with this:
"Bottom line: Before the batter-runner reaches 1B and a play is being made the base is 15 in.X30 in. Once the batter-runner has reached 1B the base becomes 30 in. X 30 in."

What a way to lose all credibility in a single sentence. The base is NEVER 30" X 30".

This must have been put in here by the same person that uttered the phrase "double re-entry" when that rule was change!

[CecilOne]

This entire topic says the clinic guide quote
"4) After the batter-runner has reached first base, BOTH the batter-runner AND the fielder can use either color of the base for ANY defensive or offensive play."

Maybe it should be added as a note to the OP for new readers to save time.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What a way to lose all credibility in a single sentence. The base is NEVER 30" X 30".

This must have been put in here by the same person that uttered the phrase "double re-entry" when that rule was change!

Irish,
I know from reading your posts that you have more contact with the folks that write/publish our ASA training materials than probably anyone else on this board. Do they ever listen to feedback on stuff like this when you bring it to their attention?

[Stu Clary]

Wow. In post #37 of this thread, KJ writes...

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Stu, hope this is enough of a citation for you as obviously mb's and Irish's detailed, rule supported, logical, and common sense based replies were not satisfactory enough for you.....

Damn. Isn't that a bit harsh? Especially considering the fact that I realized I had the rule wrong by post #27?

Originally Posted by Stu Clary

Like I said, I'm a bonehead.

I see what you're saying. Thanks for the insight.

Anyway, mission accomplished. You can be sure that I'll get this sitch right should it come up this weekend!