It's Monday night and it's been a longer weekend than normal. I thought it would be a good idea to give you some examples of situations and plays along with rules that cover those two things that I have had asked of me in the past couple of weeks.
Here is the first one -- Runners on second and third with one out. The batter singles to the outfield and both runners score. The defensive team appeals that the first runner missed home plate by stepping completely over it. A person in the crowd saw the first runner miss the plate and quickly notified the team in the field. The pitcher then appealed the missed base and the runner who miss the plate was called out and thus became the second out of the inning. The team in the field then felt that the second runner should also be called out for passing the first runner but the umpire correctly held ground and got it correct. Rule 8, Section 3, Article 8 and 9 cover this aspect of the game.
Here is another play I was called about
With a runner at first and no outs the batter hit the ball just inside the first base line chalked stripe. The first sacker fielded ball in fair territory and charged toward the batter-runner rather than waiting for the runner to reach her. As they met the batter-runner kept charging into the fielder, knocking her backward. In the umpire's judgement the first sacker made the tag but the collision was not malicious contact. That play could be considered interference on the batter-runner if in the judgement of the umpire there could have been an obvious double play as Rule 8, Section Section Article 14 covers malicious contact and the Penalty.
This one took place a week ago.
With a runner at first base and one out, the 8th batter in the order is batting when the defensive scorekeeper realizes that it should be the 7th batter up to bat. The scorekeeper notifies the head coach who chooses to wait until the batter in the batter's box has a pitch thrown to her. On the first pitch the runner at first steals second and the first pitch was a ball and the head coach asked for a time out and appealed to the plate umpire that the other team was batting out of order and that the correct batter must be called out and for batting out of order and the base stealer must return to first base. The umpire rules that the correct batter (7th batter) must take her turn immediately and assume the the no ball and one strike count and that the stolen base counts. In this scenario the umpire ruled correctly. Rule 7. Section 1 Article 2 Penalties covers this situation.
What is the difference between a Timing Play and a Force Play?
A timing play is a play when the last out of an inning is not the resuilt of a force out and the exact time of the out may or may not not allow a run to score. If a runner should touch home plate an instant before the last out (whicn is not a force out) is made, then the run would be scored. If a runner should touch home plate an instant after the last out then no run would be scored.
A force out occurs when a lead runner must make it safely to the next base because a succeeding runner or runners are also forced to make it to the next base. A runner not forced can not be called out on a force play call such as not getting back to a base after a caught fly ball or line drive. Rule 2, Section 1, Article 12 states -- Tag Ups - If a runner leaves a base too soon on a caught fly ball and returns in an attempt to retag, this is considered a timing play and not a force out. If the appeal is the third out, all runs scored by runners in advance of the appealed runner and and scored before the legal appeal would count.
It is a good thing for everyone to have a thorough knowledge of the rules and how to enforce them. Everyone includes everyone at the game. If you are not up on the rules just stay quiet and calm and let t he officials work things out. There is a way to work things out but in Wisconsin there are no protests allowed. All debated rules interpretations and enforcements must be cleared up before play continues.
Have a great week.
Bob
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