Rule Logic?

[tcannizzo]

Does anyone have any logic as to why rules allow BR/R to overrun 1B, but not 2B or 3B?

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Does anyone have any logic as to why rules allow BR/R to overrun 1B, but not 2B or 3B?

Cause that's the way they do it in baseball?????

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Cause that's the way they do it in baseball?????

ROFLMAO!!

MTD, Sr.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Does anyone have any logic as to why rules allow BR/R to overrun 1B, but not 2B or 3B?

Who said you cannot overrun 2nd or 3rd base? Of course, you can, it's just that you can also be put out.

[tcannizzo]

This is going really well.

[BretMan]

What do you expect? Not too many of us were around when these rules were invented.

What is the "logic" of having four bases? Why not three or five? How come a pitcher gets to screw up four times (balls) but a batter only gets to three times (strikes). Why can the defense get an out by tagging a base with a foot, but need to touch the runner with the ball? I don't know why any of those are the way they are...they just are.

It's just the convention that evolved as the game evolved. I guess that I can sort of see a logic to it, since plays at first base involve a batter getting on base, while plays at other bases involve a runner advancing the bases, which are kind of two different things.

[tcannizzo]

We know at least one of "us" was around.
As for 4 bases, you couldn't have a diamond with 3 or 5.
But I can go along with it.

[7in60]

I'll take a shot at it. A B-R must attain first base at a minimum to become a base runner. Not allowing him to overrun the base would put him at a disadvantage because he would have to slow down. Same logic applies when there are other runners on base - keep things fair for the B-R.

[jr131981]

when base ball (yes, it was spelled with 2 words) was first invented, you could not overrun 1st. they also had a bunch of wierd rules like you can catch the ball off the bounce, 1st, 2nd, 3rd had to play next to the base, the SS would switch sides of the field depending if a LHB was up, any ball that touches fair territory once was fair.

i would only assume that since they realized there were so many ground balls hit, that to give runners a chance they allowed them to overrun 1st.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by BretMan

What do you expect? Not too many of us were around when these rules were invented.

What is the "logic" of having four bases? Why not three or five? How come a pitcher gets to screw up four times (balls) but a batter only gets to three times (strikes). Why can the defense get an out by tagging a base with a foot, but need to touch the runner with the ball? I don't know why any of those are the way they are...they just are.

It's just the convention that evolved as the game evolved. I guess that I can sort of see a logic to it, since plays at first base involve a batter getting on base, while plays at other bases involve a runner advancing the bases, which are kind of two different things.

Why not five? Some places have a hard enough time making a diamond. Good luck with the pentagon!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

We know at least one of "us" was around.
As for 4 bases, you couldn't have a diamond with 3 or 5.
But I can go along with it.

Now you did it. Of course, you can have a five-point diamond.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jr131981

when base ball (yes, it was spelled with 2 words) was first invented, you could not overrun 1st. they also had a bunch of wierd rules like you can catch the ball off the bounce, 1st, 2nd, 3rd had to play next to the base, the SS would switch sides of the field depending if a LHB was up, any ball that touches fair territory once was fair.

i would only assume that since they realized there were so many ground balls hit, that to give runners a chance they allowed them to overrun 1st.

Actually it was Rounders, one word and you ran base to base (actually, post to post) and maintain contact.

My guess is that when it was stolen....er, evolved into baseball, the rule was changed to allow the BR to proceed at the quickest speed so they could brag to their girlfriends about how fast they are.

Okay, maybe the girlfriend bragging is a bit too much.

[jr131981]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Actually it was Rounders, one word and you ran base to base (actually, post to post) and maintain contact.

My guess is that when it was stolen....er, evolved into baseball, the rule was changed to allow the BR to proceed at the quickest speed so they could brag to their girlfriends about how fast they are.

Okay, maybe the girlfriend bragging is a bit too much.

i was referring to the stolen/evolved initial version of baseball, known in those days as base ball. many places, at least in the north east, have base ball "leagues". ive played exhibition games at several county fairs and a tournament in OH years ago.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jr131981

i was referring to the stolen/evolved initial version of baseball, known in those days as base ball. many places, at least in the north east, have base ball "leagues". ive played exhibition games at several county fairs and a tournament in OH years ago.

Yes, I'm familiar with Cartwright's Knickerbocker Rules and Regulations .

And people think today's rules are vague and poorly worded

All I can be sure of is that by 1936 the rule had been changed, but I am almost sure that it happened in a manner where a player complained that he was being put out because he had to slow down and some manager thought it would be a great idea if they allowed the BR the opportunity to be safe by giving them an exemption at that base.

[JefferMC]

He also gets an exemption at home.

Probably it comes down to evening up the playing field so that you could get people on base more often. The BR is at a bit of a disadvantage in that he doesn't get any lead off, has a few feet extra to begin with (or has to turn around), and has to switch from thinking about hitting the ball to running in an instant. If you think about how many close plays you get at first given the current situation, think about how many baserunners you'd lose.