Overrunning 1st Base - your call

WestMichBlue · #1 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 11:57am

FED rules; 1 out, R1 on 2B, batter hits slow chopper on infield. F6 fails in her attempt to tag R1; realizes that she does not have a play at 1B and wisely flips ball to pitcher.

Sit 1: Batter-runner overruns 1B, turns right and starts back to 1B. Coach is screaming for her to go to 2B (she wants a play on the runner so R1 can score). Batter-runner heads for 2B. Legal?

Sit 2: same play, but with 2 outs. Batter-runner overruns 1B, turns left and starts toward 2B. Coach is screaming "get back" and runner returns. Legal?

greymule · #2 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 01:17pm

OK, F1 has the ball within the circle and is not making a play on anyone.

Situation 1, not legal, assuming the runner had not broken for 2B before F1 got the ball. Runner is out.

Situation 2, legal, as long as the runner simply turns left and advances toward 2B without starting to return to 1B. (The number of outs is irrelevant.)

ASA is the same in this regard.

bluezebra · #3 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 02:14pm

In my opinion, legal in both 1 & 2. Just because the pitcher has the ball in the circle, it doesn't take away B1's right to attempt to advance, as long as she hasn't stopped.

Bob

greymule · #4 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 03:18pm

I think that if she's returning to 1B after overrunning (not roundingÂ—that's a different story) and the ball is in the circle, she can't try for 2B. This would hold regardless of which way she turned. I think this is a fairly new wrinkle to take away the play where the runner is moseying back to 1B and then breaks for 2B, which was legal not that long ago. All this of course presupposes the ball in the circle.

I believe she is committed to 1B if after overrunning she turns right or, if she turns left, makes a move in any direction except toward 2B. I'll check both Fed and ASA when I get home.

Steve M · #5 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 04:27pm

Bob,
Situation 1 is not legal. She has committed to 1B by turning right AND starting to return to 1B while look-back is in effect. That's a dead ball and an out.

Steve M

WestMichBlue · #6 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 17, 2003, 09:12pm

There is a lot of verbage concerning the L-B rule. However, it becomes fairly easy to administer if you just follow this logic. When a runner is off base, and the pitcher has the ball within the 16' circle, there are three steps in the process - STOP, COMMIT, and PROCEED NON-STOP.

The L-B rule is NOT in effect UNTIL the the runner STOPS her forward motion. Then she must COMMIT to either the next base or the previous one. The time allowed to commit is your judgement; how long will you give her to make up her mind. Then she must proceed non-stop to that base. If she fails to commit promptly or fails to proceed non-stop you call her out.

Now apply that simple process to a runner overrunning first when the pitcher has the ball. When she ceases running towards right field and turns, she has STOPPED and the L-B rule is in effect. Regardless of which way she turns, she must now commit. If it is to 1B then she must proceed non-stop to first. If she commits to 2B, then she must go to second.

(Admittedly, it would be physically difficult for a runner to turn right and commit to 2B, so generally if she turns right you may assume that she is committed to 1B)

In both the situations listed in my original post, the runner failed to go non-stop to the committed base; in both cases the runner would be called out.

Now apply that process to the runner rounding 1B towards second when the pitcher has the ball. Runner is not committed to 2B yet because she has not stopped! When she finally stops (2 steps or half way to 2B) then she must commit. Then proceed non-stop. You have no call until AFTER the STOP.
WMB