You Make The Call

[greymule]

Good question, whiskers, with the answer not as simple as some would think. Here's how I would call it in ASA. The runner closest to home (in this case the batter-runner, since the runner from 3B had crossed the plate) is out. Since the third out was made by the batter-runner before he reached 1B, the run does not count.

We had a discussion a while back about a similar play where the softball rule works to the advantage of the team that commits the infraction. Suppose it was bases loaded, one out, ground ball to F6, who throws to F4 for the force at 2B, and the runner from first interferes with the throw to 1B after the runner from 3B has crossed the plate. The runner closest to home (in this case, the runner who started at 2B) is out, but since that out isn't a force play, the run WOULD count. In baseball, of course, the out for interference still applies where the play was going to be (1B), so the run would NOT count.

I think the above play is an example of where the umpire should invoke the clause about a team not gaining an advantage by violating the rules. Suppose with bases loaded and one out, the BR hits a one-hopper to F6's left and falls down in the batter's box. F6 steps on 2B and takes his time to make sure of the throw to 1B, with BR just a few steps down the line. The runner from 3B crosses the plate. The runner who was on first then catches F6's throw before it gets to F3. Technically, the runner from 2B is out and the run scores, but I'm going to call the BR out and nullify the run.