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Online now: 3 members: Bobby B, Louie09, TABLE SETTER 11; 110 anonymousDiscussion: Ruling for runner stepping on baseman's foot instead of the base?
| Posted | Discussion |
| Sept. 20, 2018 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | Ruling for runner stepping on baseman's foot instead of the base? In our self umpiring local league, we had this situation. Runner on 1st base, one out. Batter hits soft line drive to pitcher who catches it. Runner on 1st starts towards 2nd, then attempts to return to 1st base. 1st baseman's foot is on the bag and the runner steps on the 1st baseman's foot and never touches the bag. A second or two later, pitcher throws ball to 1st baseman and the runner is still standing on the 1st baseman's foot. The runner was called out because he never touched the bag or was never in contact with the bag, as stated many times in the rule book for a runner making contact with a base. Was that the correct call? Must a runner touch the bag and not a baseman's foot that is on the bag? |
| Sept. 20, 2018 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | The foot isn't part of the base. Runner out. |
| Sept. 20, 2018 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | I concur, without any need for further comment. Thanks, Wayne. |
| Sept. 21, 2018 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | The only way I would have the runner save was if the fielder was deliberately blocking access to the base and not in the process of receiving the throw. Hope you've noticed in MLB that there aren't collisions at the plate because of this rule change. Catcher has to give the runner access to the plate when not actually taking the throw as to making a play. |
| Sept. 21, 2018 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Turbobob, are you sure that the runner continued to step only on the foot and not on the bag for two seconds? The runner must have a very small foot or the first baseman a very large shoe...or both! If I were covering first, I would push the guy off my foot before 2 seconds were up. It seems more likely that either the heel or the toe of the runner's shoe was overlapping the foot and touching the base. |
| Sept. 22, 2018 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | Omar, I was the pitcher who caught the soft line drive and threw the ball to the 1st baseman, and was very close to first base. The runner stayed on the 1st baseman's foot for the entire play as described, not touching the base at all. We have tough guys playing first base :) |
| Sept. 22, 2018 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Turbobob, I am impressed with your tough guys! |
| Sept. 24, 2018 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | Just move your foot. Pushing is obstruction of the runner and could be quite possibly warrant an ejection. |
