2021
BASEBALL
This is a Three-Umpire crew which means it is probably a playoff game and a playoff crew. The move by this left-handed pitcher has to be called early! By not calling this move early in the game it sets the tone for the rest of the game and, perhaps, later games in the playoff tournament. As umipres we give ourselves little outs by saying "Oh, the runner made it back" or "it didn't affect anything". The no-call of this leads to the no-call in the next video. Plain and simple, the pitcher must gain ANGLE and DISTANCE to the base they are throwing to. In other words, the step needs to be more towards 1st base than home or another base. This makes the explanation to the coach easy, "Coach, he stepped more towards home than 1st base" or "Coach, he did not gain the distance needed towards 1st base". Plain and simple, dont let the pitcher try to be cute all game long by cheating this step, call it early and let them know you are willing to keep calling it if they keep trying to cheat the step. This can be any umpires' call as well, as plate can see how much distance towards 1st, 1st base umpire can see direction of step, and 3rd base umpire in the B position can see a little of both.
Since the balk was not called early, they chose to let this one go too.
Speaking of balks, below you will see the equivalent of a "what did I just see?" play.
So let' start with the past ball. The umpire did a good job of clearing the catcher and getting to a safe spot.
1. When the ball gets past, wait to let the catcher turn you before you look for the ball. That way you can drop step with the foot on the side they go.
2. Then you can look to find the ball. If at all possible, try to stay near the Point of Plate position for the play. Jumping to 3rd Base line extended can leave you blocked on some plays with more distance required to rotate to a better angle.
3. Be aware of throwing lanes and Be Safe!
Next, let's quickly explain the balk. The pitcher needs one fluid move to the plate. This means he cannot start, pause at the top of their motion, and then deliver. They also cannot drop their foot towards the ground and then pick it up and go to a base or plate. Once their foot starts down it can continue and kick forward at some point for the pitch, as that is technically still part of the same motion to the plate. However, when this pitcher drops then lifts their foot again it added a new movement and therefor correctly called a balk.
In this video, the player coming home goes up and over the tag. There are two possible violations...
1. Did the runner go more than three feet out of their established base path to avoid the tag?
- I do not see how this would be possible in this instance since the runner was able to, from their launch point, still land and tag the plate. At the point of the tag attempt, the runner would have had to deviate an addition 3 feet from their current path, and it is clear this was not the case.
2. Did the runner hurdle a defensive player?
- The rule for hurdling and diving is better spelled out in the Case Book than it is in the Rule Book. The violation occurs when a runner hurdles a fielder. If a fielder is "lying" on the ground, there is no violation. A runner is ALWAYS out for diving over a fielder whether they are lying down or not.
The exception to this is in that: a runner is allowed to go over the outstretched arms of a fielder without violation.
Now lets discuss the the umpire. This umpire, when the ball is hit, vacates left immediatly and puts themselves in "no-mans land." Since the umpire had ZERO responsibilities in the field or at other bases, they had no reason to vacate from the Point of Plate position. He would have been able to more clearly see runner going over the tag, and NOT over the catcher's body. The explanation also would have been very easy and much shorter without requiring assistance from the partner.
"Coach, hurdling a fielder requires going over some part of their body OTHER than the arms. The runner clearly went over the tag and remained in a legal position the entire time. My partner has no view from their location and I am certain I have this rule correct, let's move on." If the coach is adament, and maybe even talking about a protest, then you should appease them by asking your partner to confer. "Hey, I have the runner going over the arm, and not the body, and I have no other violation on the play I can think of, can you think of something I am missing?" Nice, simple, and you will NOT be required to go back and converse with the coach any more. He asked you to get help, and you did, and he has already received the explanation. If he wants more, he is out of luck.
SOFTBALL
In this play, the pitcher has received the ball and is in the 16-foot circle. This is clearly within the realm of the lookback rule. So the question becomes, what rights did the runner have at the time she chose to advance to 3rd base.
1. The runner(s) may stop once, but then must immediatly return to the base or attempt to advance to the next base.
(8-7-2)
2. Once a runner stops at a base for any reason, she will be declared out if she leaves the base.
(8-7-3)
It is pretty much a black and white situation. The need to confer with partner or tournament director should have been null and void. Once the runner stopped on the base and the pitcher had the ball, all the pieces were locked. The only exception would be if the pitcher made a play attempt (feinting or throwing the ball) or the pitcher loses possession of the ball (dropping the ball accidentally). Placing the ball under an arm or between her legs, for example, while managing her hair or something similar still leaves her in posssession of the ball and the look-back rule would remain intact.
What happens most often is a runner will run through first base and come to a stop. At this time the runner must decide to return or advance. Many times the runner will turn back towards the pitcher to see the status of the ball and this does not mean she has made her choice yet, she can still make the read and then must immediatly advance or return. The umpires need to work together on the hand-off of the runner so that someone always has attention on the runners for the look-back rule. If the umpire on the bases is moving to his next position and the plate umpire does not watch the runner(s), plays like this can logistically happen, including a runner walking back towards first base and then advancing to 2nd base when the defense is off guard.
As stated above, the umpire knows the rule and should not have needed to go so far as getting a tournament director involved unless the coach threatens protest. If the coach argues that the pitcher did, in fact, feint a play or something similar then the base umpire could have a reason to get help from his partner. The reactions of the partner in this play, trying to say maybe the coach was right, is a reason the umpire who is responsible for the play, or the umpire who clearly had ALL of the information, should know when to put their foot down because the plate umpire could have been distracted elsewhere at the moment the play occured and would have been making a decisions with only some of the facts.
A runner is out when she commits interference, an act (physical or verbal) by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder; or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline (2-32-1); and when there is interference by a runner or retired runner (5-1-1e, 7-4-4; 8-1-2a; 8-2-5, 6; 8-6-10; 11, 12, 14, 18) or by any person (3-5-4, 5; 8-6-16).
but.....
A runner is entitled to advance without liability to be put out when a fielder not in possessions of the ball or not making an initial play on a batted ball, impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases (8-4-3b).
So.....
In this play, the short-stop is ABSOLUTELY interefered with by the runner. There is zero doubt that she had to stop because of the runner from 2nd base. This, however, does not automatically warrant an interference call.
We must also take into account another phrase....was it her initial play that was interfered with? This protects the runner for being called out for interference if a fielder misplays or has to change directions due to a secondary play. Also, if a fielder muffs the ball but it is still within a step and a reach, she is still in the act of making an initial play on the ball and contact would result in interference.
The point is to protect the fielder in being able to play on the ball and the runner not being punished for a fielders actions that were not part of a legitimate attempt at the ball. Otherwise fielders would run directly at the baserunners to get the interference call anytime a ball is hit anywhere near them.
So what does all of this mean on this play? Let's work through the play!
1. Just because the pitcher had a play and missed does not mean the runner is safe from having interference called. Any fielder still with a chance to play on the ball will be protected on their initial play on the ball.
2. No, the runner cannot just disappear; they have to be aware that the defensive player has right of way on their initial play attempt. Any time a ball is hit to their side they need awareness of the defensive player.
3. Initial play. Did the short stop mess up their initial play with the hard charge left, meaning they put themselves into a position to be interefered with? If so, there is no interference.
I would have interference on this play because the fielder was interfered with. If you argue that the fielder's initial play was a mis-play and you chose not to protect said fielder from interference, by rule you could be correct, however, and it would be a judgment call that would not be able to be protested.
Whatever you call, be aware you will have to defend your call with a rule and appropriate judgment to fit the rule. Softball is played on a 60-foot diamond. Add the fact that runners are tied to bases until ball releases and it brings runner and fielder together A LOT on plays like this and we should always...always...always be aware of who we are protecting.