2. Runner on 2B. BR lines a double into the gap. Runner on 2nd makes slight contact with SS who is moving in and out at 2B when the ball is hit. LF fields ball cleanly and throws the runner from 2nd out at the plate by a country mile. You make the call!!

 

**This is a combination of rules and a judgement call, so no answer will be completely wrong or right.

 

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If my memory is correct, in OBR its a judgement as to whether the interference effected the runner's ability to score. So, the "country mile" margin would most likely result in an out since he's only protected to 3rd base.

 

In Fed, I'm guessing that the runner is awarded home - one base he would have gotten plus one more.

Any chance you could find the ruling for me? I'll look myself also - and it may very well exist - but I don't see how it becomes a tag play if he completely missed the bag.

 

I'm with you on this one and cannot find a rule.

If my memory is correct, in OBR its a judgement as to whether the interference effected the runner's ability to score. So, the "country mile" margin would most likely result in an out since he's only protected to 3rd base.

 

In Fed, I'm guessing that the runner is awarded home - one base he would have gotten plus one more.

 

Yeah, I think your explanation makes sense. OBR allows the umpire to award the runner the base(s) he would have safely reached had there been no obstruction. So if the umpire only felt the runner was guaranteed to make third safely, he took the risk of going home on his own. Since he was thrown out by a "country mile", it's probably safe to assume that even without the "slight contact" he'd have been out by a "city mile", therefore the out is allowed to stand.

Man, you guys are good. I would have thought the ball off the fielders head would have given more trouble than that. CSHS is all over #2. That's exactly why I worded it a "country mile". The runner is only protected to 3B and just because there is interference or obstruction at 2B doesn't give you a "free pass".

 

#3 is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. Cooperstown has obviously done his homework and is correct, that the "Fielder's Balk" is an absolute myth. However, you are not correct(at least in HS, it may be different in MLB) in saying that the fielder MUST have 2 feet in fair territory to be considered. As per NFHS rule 1-2-5: "At the time of the pitch all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who shall be in the catcher's box. A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching fair ground." So as long as you have one foot in play your good.

 

If 2 feet were out of play, then you don't have the required 8 inside the lines and thus, the ball cannot be put into play. So time would be called and the fielder would be asked to move inside the lines with at least one foot. If he refused to do so, he would be ejected. Play would resume when the fielder had at least 1 foot inside the line.

If my memory is correct, in OBR its a judgement as to whether the interference effected the runner's ability to score. So, the "country mile" margin would most likely result in an out since he's only protected to 3rd base.

 

In Fed, I'm guessing that the runner is awarded home - one base he would have gotten plus one more.

 

Actually OBR and FED are the same here. If the kid at home had been thrown out in a "bang-bang" play, then I'd say you'd have to give him home.

I would go with the thinking that its a force since the runner never touched first .However, many umpires say that the only way the runner can be put out is to tag them. Apparently, there is a ruling/interpretation that says there must be a tag.

 

That surprises me.

 

Ok so there is only one reason I can think that this would be the case and I'm not totally sold on this one either. I has nothing to do with rules, think about it logically. Play at first what is going to happen at first base 99% of the time(unless the ball is dropped). The field umpire is making a call. In this case the runner beat the throw so "safe" would be the call. Thus, since the runner is "safe" he has to be tagged or called out upon appeal.

 

That's my best guess........

However, you are not correct(at least in HS, it may be different in MLB) in saying that the fielder MUST have 2 feet in fair territory to be considered. As per NFHS rule 1-2-5: "At the time of the pitch all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who shall be in the catcher's box. A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching fair ground." So as long as you have one foot in play your good.

 

Yet another FED/OBR difference, I guess, because I am positive in OBR you need two feet inside any box to be in play. I wonder if anyone has ever published an umpire/rules manual spelling out the differences in rules between the two, rather than having to own both manuals and constantly comparing them.

#3 is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. Cooperstown has obviously done his homework and is correct, that the "Fielder's Balk" is an absolute myth. However, you are not correct(at least in HS, it may be different in MLB) in saying that the fielder MUST have 2 feet in fair territory to be considered. As per NFHS rule 1-2-5: "At the time of the pitch all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who shall be in the catcher's box. A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching fair ground." So as long as you have one foot in play your good.

 

If 2 feet were out of play, then you don't have the required 8 inside the lines and thus, the ball cannot be put into play. So time would be called and the fielder would be asked to move inside the lines with at least one foot. If he refused to do so, he would be ejected. Play would resume when the fielder had at least 1 foot inside the line.

 

 

I had a tight game where the head umpire in the league called a "fielder's balk" because our LH 1b had his left foot in foul ground while holding the runner. I told him that it wasn't a rule and that it was a myth. I lost that argument.

Actually OBR and FED are the same here. If the kid at home had been thrown out in a "bang-bang" play, then I'd say you'd have to give him home.

 

Distance he was thrown out has nothing to do with the obstruction (not interference). He is protected to the base he was entitled, 3rd, and if he advances past the base he was entitled then he is fair game. I would guess the 3rd base base coach didn't know the obstuction rule if he got him thrown out by a country mile.

Yet another FED/OBR difference, I guess, because I am positive in OBR you need two feet inside any box to be in play. I wonder if anyone has ever published an umpire/rules manual spelling out the differences in rules between the two, rather than having to own both manuals and constantly comparing them.

 

Yep. It has been. It is actually in the back of the NFHS manual. I'm not going to spell them all out but here we go:

 

1. Legal Bat

2. Intentional Base on Balls

3. Obstruction(always a delayed dead ball in NFHS)

4. Illegal slide

5. Re-entry of starters

6. Designated Hitter

7. Fielder without ball fakes tag

8. Malicious contact

9. Umpire discipline of coach

10. Team Warnings

11. Defensive conferences

12. Offensive conferences

13. Finishing the game with 8 players

14. Umpire handles live ball

15. Balk

16. Allowable movements in the windup position

17. Missed base or leaving base too soon on caught fly ball

18. Fielder steps into dead ball territory after catch

19. Runner shall slide or avoid contact on a force or tag play

20. Interference on double play attempt

 

If you have specific questions about one of these post it and I will give you the NFHS rule being cited and the MLB rule being cited. Well over half of these have to do with safety or protecting players in some way shape or form.

I've been involved in two of the following:

 

1. Runner on second base is trying to score on a base hit. Ball is bobbled in left field and appears as if he will make it easily. On deck batter screams, "You're up". Just before he touches home plate, maybe 1 to 2 feet, the ball comes sailing in and strikes him in the back. Ball hits the ground and runner touches home. Catcher made no attempt to come from behind the plate and come catch the ball. Ruling? Our runner was ruled "out" for interference.

 

2. Another ball hitting a runner at home on a no-slide. Runner on third, passed ball. Runner breaks for home and sees he is going to easily beat the pitcher trying to cover home and comes in standing. Catcher fires the ball toward home from the backstop hoping his pitcher gets there. Before the runner touches the plate the ball grazes his chest which causes the ball to deflect and strike the covering pitcher in the face about 3 feet in front of home plate. Ruling? Our runner was ruled safe. The other team argued interference because had our guy slid the ball would have been caught and a "chance at making a tag" would have existed.

Distance he was thrown out has nothing to do with the obstruction (not interference). He is protected to the base he was entitled, 3rd, and if he advances past the base he was entitled then he is fair game. I would guess the 3rd base base coach didn't know the obstuction rule if he got him thrown out by a country mile.

 

You got one part right(see bolded). The runner is not "automatically" entitled to JUST 3B. If, in the judgement of the umpire, the runner would have obtained home had the obstruction not occurred then the runner is entitled to home as well.

 

NFHS rule 8-3-2: "If obstructed runner and all other runners hindered by the obstruction do not reach the bases they otherwise would have reached, award runner or runners such bases"

I've been involved in two of the following:

 

1. Runner on second base is trying to score on a base hit. Ball is bobbled in left field and appears as if he will make it easily. On deck batter screams, "You're up". Just before he touches home plate, maybe 1 to 2 feet, the ball comes sailing in and strikes him in the back. Ball hits the ground and runner touches home. Catcher made no attempt to come from behind the plate and come catch the ball. Ruling? Our runner was ruled "out" for interference.

 

2. Another ball hitting a runner at home on a no-slide. Runner on third, passed ball. Runner breaks for home and sees he is going to easily beat the pitcher trying to cover home and comes in standing. Catcher fires the ball toward home from the backstop hoping his pitcher gets there. Before the runner touches the plate the ball grazes his chest which causes the ball to deflect and strike the covering pitcher in the face about 3 feet in front of home plate. Ruling? Our runner was ruled safe. The other team argued interference because had our guy slid the ball would have been caught and a "chance at making a tag" would have existed.

 

I assume these happened in high school using FED rules.

 

I can't imagine the justification for interference on #1 on a play at the plate.

 

I think there is a misconception that in high school a player HAS to slide if there is a "play" at the plate. That's not correct. The rule simply says that he can't jump over a standing player nor can he "truck" the catcher.

I've been involved in two of the following:

 

1. Runner on second base is trying to score on a base hit. Ball is bobbled in left field and appears as if he will make it easily. On deck batter screams, "You're up". Just before he touches home plate, maybe 1 to 2 feet, the ball comes sailing in and strikes him in the back. Ball hits the ground and runner touches home. Catcher made no attempt to come from behind the plate and come catch the ball. Ruling? Our runner was ruled "out" for interference.

 

2. Another ball hitting a runner at home on a no-slide. Runner on third, passed ball. Runner breaks for home and sees he is going to easily beat the pitcher trying to cover home and comes in standing. Catcher fires the ball toward home from the backstop hoping his pitcher gets there. Before the runner touches the plate the ball grazes his chest which causes the ball to deflect and strike the covering pitcher in the face about 3 feet in front of home plate. Ruling? Our runner was ruled safe. The other team argued interference because had our guy slid the ball would have been caught and a "chance at making a tag" would have existed.

 

No way is this interference in either case. Bad, bad call on #1.

Yep. It has been. It is actually in the back of the NFHS manual. I'm not going to spell them all out but here we go:

 

If you have specific questions about one of these post it and I will give you the NFHS rule being cited and the MLB rule being cited. Well over half of these have to do with safety or protecting players in some way shape or form.

 

Thanks!! It's high time I get my own NFHS rulebook anyways.