ASA 8-1-E-3 vs. 8-1-E-4
 

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the two subject rules? They both deal with a fair batted ball hitting an umpire or runner. For those who don't have a book handy, they read:

3. Before passing a fielder without being touched.
EFFECT: The ball is dead.

4. Before passing a fielder, excluding the pitcher and contacts a runner who is off the base.
EFFECT: Dead ball, the runner is out. The batter-runner is awarded first base and runners advance one base if forced.

It almost sounds as if 4. is a rewrite of 3. to provide more clarification, and 3. was inadvertently left in the book. Or is there a reason why they're both in the book that I'm not seeing? :confused:

3. The ball is dead if it hits a runner on a base and the nearest fielder is behind the base. In this case, the ball is dead but the runner is not out.

4. Runner is off the base.

I don't think that's what they meant with 8-1-E-3, EsqUmp. The rule on hitting a runner on a base is 8-1-E-6.

Without having read the book, I'm betting you answered your own question. Apply 8-1-E-3 when the ball hits an umpire. Apply 8-1-E-4 when it hits a runner.

I look at it differently. 8.1.E1-3 simply say the ball is live or dead depending on whether the ball was touched or has passed a fielder. Subsections 4-7 are more specific, telling us who is out or not out as the case may be.