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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 97 anonymousDiscussion: You make the call
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| July 7, 2017 HAT MAN Men's 50 229 posts | You make the call We adapted some of SSUSA rules for regular league where im from and while I was umpiring I had a situation that I cant find in rule book. So want to hear from you all. There is a play at the plate/line. Runner is past commitment line running at an angle towards the batters box/home plate. Catcher is out front with foot on the plate with his body on near the lefty batters box. As the runner gets closer the on deck batter runs into the right hand batters box and picks up the bat used by the hitter but stays in the right hand box with bat in hand waiving to the runner to move towards the line. Catcher makes the catch without inference but the runner crossed the line before the catch. Is the runner safe or out? I made a judgement call and called the runner out. My reasoning was in my opinion he was running right towards the batters box and if the on deck batter didn't stand in the box waving him over the runner would have ran into the box. |
| July 7, 2017 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | Quick observation is that it's not always wise as an umpire to presume that something may happen and make a call accordingly ... We would advise making the call, if any, on what actually did happen ... Especially, in this case, where you stated that interference was NOT present and the base runner did NOT step on the plate/strike mat OR run thru the no-fly zone of the right handed batter's box ... |
| July 7, 2017 HAT MAN Men's 50 229 posts | Totally hear you Dave. So with that said can I as a player on deck just go stand in the right hand box to make sure my runners cross the line? As long as I don't interfere with the catcher. Seems like it is wrong but that's the focus of the post. 1. as an ump did i make the right call? based on your post....i made wrong call 2. whats to prevent on deck batters consistently doing this to save their team an out by running in the box? I like to help myself as both the ump and player and will most definitely tell the player I made the wrong call next week. I just know his next question will be so then I can do it all the time as long as I don't make contact with catcher or runner? |
| July 7, 2017 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | HAT MAN ... Not being there, it's difficult to say what's "right" or "wrong" about your call, but a couple of obvious things are relevant ... 1. Why would the ODB go anywhere near the play to retrieve a bat that is theoretically resting in a place (the batter's box) where the runner should not be anyway? ... He shouldn't ... 2. An interference call is a judgment call, not subject to protest or appeal ... Maybe the prudent course of action next time is to rule interference by the ODB and then your call automatically becomes the correct one! ... Your explanation might be, for the sake of discussion, that the ODB charging into the middle of the action is, on it's face, influencing the play to the detriment of the defense by distracting or making the play more difficult ... Good question! |
| July 7, 2017 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I have another observation, and I am guilty of doing this! Why would an on deck batter move the bat that could possibly deflect the throw coming in if the catcher is not paying attention and leaves it in the way of a potential throw? I have seen many throws hit bats laying where the batter dropped it, and a couple of those runners would have been out. I like the idea of ruling interference-the odb was in the middle of the play. |
| July 7, 2017 HAT MAN Men's 50 229 posts | Good explanation Dave. I used something similar on another call. Runner came into right hand box to pick up bat. No play at the plate but I called the runner out for coming into the box. He wasnt happy saying I get the rule but I was just getting the bat out of the way for the guy behind me in case he tried to score. I did it for safety not for anything else. I said I understand what your saying but your saying you did it for safety and the runner behind you must touch the line so there was no safety issue with the bat laying there. |
| July 9, 2017 curty Men's 60 187 posts | umping recently, called a double play - 2 outs- on a play at the plate: runner attempting to score went to mat as throw was coming home & very narrowly missed making contact with catcher, who dropped the throw. runner 2 ( batter/runner) stumbled on his way to second and in my opinion the catcher would have had an easy opportunity to complete the double play. |
| July 9, 2017 1bounce Men's 55 35 posts | I myself if i was catching and the ondeck batter was in the box you bet there would be interference if a catcher knows how to play the position. |
| July 13, 2017 waiddog Men's 40 1 posts | I think safe, he did not run into the box. It would be the same if the on deck batter was in another position. In my opinion. Vinnie call me please I need some stuff from you. |
| July 13, 2017 raiderman66 77 posts | I don't have any dog in this fight but I would simply say I would invite any team we play to use an extended over a senior bat 100% of the time. |
| July 13, 2017 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Not sure what the SSUSA rule may be but in NSA if the ball hits an offensive teams bat the ball is dead, the runner closest to home is out. Not a good idea to leave the bat in the middle of the action. |
