B/R Retreats Towards Home Playe

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Which is why, in baseball, a BR who retreats (legally, I might add) back toward home to avoid the tag is ruled out when he reaches the plate.

I also agree with others that I find no logical basis for ruling Interference on this play. For whatever reason, softball sanctioning bodies feel this situation is a special case that doesn't apply between any other bases. Fine. But rather than ruling it Interference, why not just rule it similar to a three-foot violation, call the BR out, and leave the ball Live to make plays on other runners? If this is really Interference, then all similar acts (e.g., the aforementioned three-foot violation) should be treated as Interference as well.

As we all know, the ASA rulebook spawned all the others. While I'm old enough to have been there, I know it was before I was involved in the rules process; Mike, can you research your collection to see when this rule was added as interference? It would have to be before the NCAA rulebook separated, and probably before there was an NFHS rulebook.

As is prevalent (more so in NCAA today, with a small committee, and highly influential coaches; not so easy in the ASA 300+ voting member council) in the rules process, there can often be a bad rule or interpretation that is championed by someone with enough juice to make it a rule. Often these are changed back later, when the body realizes it is a bad rule; sometimes, it just stays with lack of inertia. This one clearly has existed long enough that no one has challenged it as being illogical.

Some examples of bad rule later changed? The one year (or was it two?) ASA called it interference if a retired batter drew a throw from the catcher on a D3K when not a batter-runner. The several years NCAA made it an illegal pitch if the pitcher's first swing up broke a 90 degree plane over her head.

Now, we could start a whole new thread on what we consider bad rules that still exist. For me:
1) Squaring to bunt without attempting to hit the ball is an attempt to hit the ball if you don't pull back. (NCAA & NFHS)
1a) The resulting spawned belief that pulling back AFTER attempting to contact the ball is NOT an attempt to bunt. (NCAA & NFHS)
2) Batters letting balls dribble into their foot and getting an awarded base. (NCAA & NFHS)
2a) The resulting "taking it for the team" attitude that has injured so many players, and allows batters to take away the inside (and our slot).
3) Steel cleats at any recreational level; yep, include that recreational high school, too, IMO. (ASA & NFHS)
3a) The resulting ACL, MCL, MDL, etc. injuries when the cleat bites, and the female knee ligaments can't handle it.

All of the above, IMO, are far worse for the game than calling the BR stepping back to avoid a tag interference. But, that's just me.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

[good stuff....]

Now, we could start a whole new thread on what we consider bad rules that still exist. For me:
1) Squaring to bunt without attempting to hit the ball is an attempt to hit the ball if you don't pull back. (NCAA & NFHS)
1a) The resulting spawned belief that pulling back AFTER attempting to contact the ball is NOT an attempt to bunt. (NCAA & NFHS)
2) Batters letting balls dribble into their foot and getting an awarded base. (NCAA & NFHS)
2a) The resulting "taking it for the team" attitude that has injured so many players, and allows batters to take away the inside (and our slot).
3) Steel cleats at any recreational level; yep, include that recreational high school, too, IMO. (ASA & NFHS)
3a) The resulting ACL, MCL, MDL, etc. injuries when the cleat bites, and the female knee ligaments can't handle it.

All of the above, IMO, are far worse for the game than calling the BR stepping back to avoid a tag interference. But, that's just me.

Amen, Brother. Give that man a beer.