Tag Out

[dirk80]

We had a situation this weekend at a tournament that I would like others opinions on. I will try to keep this as short as possible.

The opposing team's 1st baseman stood in the baseline path blocking a runner's lead off ability until the pitcher pitched the ball. I understand that our runner cannot take off until the ball is released from the pitcher. She did not move when the runner came back to the base even when there wasn't an opportunity to steal/run and there was no chance of the runner being thrown out either. Our runner was aggravated by this and made gestures about being blocked (which of course I did not think was appropriate) and the ump tried to explain to our runner that the 1st baseman can do this. This seemed to upset the 1st baseman too that our runner would question her and immediately started talking smack to our runner (which I could hear sitting right at 1st base). Here is where I think our coach should of stepped in, which of course did not happen. The ump was still talking to our runner when the next play took off, ball hit to 1st baseman, caught it and turned to tag our runner and happened to tag her in the helmet/head. Our runner jumped up upset about being tagged in the head and the ump's response was he didn't see it, what could he possibly mean, how do you call someone out and not see the tag? Now was this done on purpose by the 1st baseman, don't know for certain but our coach nor the ump did anything to diffuse the situation.

The next inning, our 1st baseman, who was the runner this happened too, picked up ground ball and instead of going to the bag, tagged the runner out(probably more aggresive than needed) and this about started a brawl and the ump threw our 1st baseman out of the game.

Now this is my question, this is a game and I understand frustrations run high but should of the 1st baseman have been talked to about tagging in the head/helmet? IMO, yes. Should of the coaches diffused this before it turned ugly? Again, IMO, yes. Should the ump have stepped in before it turned ugly? Again, IMO, yes...

[covprob]

I saw the play in question. I do not believe that the firest baseman meant to tag her high. The ball was hit on a line and after catching it, she simply turned and tagged the player. I do however believe that the ump and the the coach could have and should have stepped in prior to the play and diffused the situation. The girl should have been thrown out because what she did was totally unnecessary and warrented the ejection, but the coach should have stepped up and could have prevented it.