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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 71 anonymousDiscussion: Clarify rule when runners are on base
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| Oct. 5, 2018 Reyes21 Men's 40 1 posts | Clarify rule when runners are on base I understand there are no leading off after the pitch, but this past weekend I was a runner at third base. The batter/teammate pulled the ball foul and almost took me out. I feel the runnner at third base should be able to move 3-4 feet to the right in case the batter pulls the ball since we have no level of protection when runners are on base especially at third base. The batter had a 1-1 count and he just adjusted to the ball being pitched inside. Just a thought and what we can do to avoid serious injury. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Reyes21, there was a very long discussion about this a couple of months ago. You need to be in contact with the bag until the ball crosses the plate. To your point, the only issue that I have is that in this same scenario at 1B, the entire base becomes one in SSUSA. So a runner can be standing on the orange bag and not get called out. If I remember correctly that was done for safety. So in my opinion only if that is true that there should be an orange bag on 3B. I have stated this before, but I do not feel strongly enough about it to write up a rule change proposal, and I am guessing that it would not pass anyway. It would also cause an issue because softball fields are not configured that way. So for instance in the current tournament, some provision would have to be made for 36 orange bags on 3B. Now you said 3 or 4 feet, and I don't think that anyone would agree to that much distance on an extra bag. Anyone can submit a rule change for consideration for the convention; so if you feel strongly enough about it, you can do that. So touch that bag and stand to the foul side, but if you get caught off of it before the ball reaches the plate, you should be called out. It can be a dangerous sport at times. Just never take your eye off of the ball, and I hope that you never get hit. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 DieselDan Men's 75 602 posts | Wouldn't the defense have to make an appeal first Nancy? Then, the defense would hope either the plate umpire, if working solo, or the base umpire saw the infraction. And the odds are not that good that any umpire saw it. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | DieselDan, no, it is the umpire's call. It is a dead ball out (pitch doesn't count). The actual rule is on page 37 6.13, C. It can be referenced from the Rules link under Tournaments above or by going to https://seniorsoftball.com/?page=7 if the drop down doesn't work on your device. BJ always explains it more succinctly than me. So I await his wise input as well. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 titanhd Men's 60 639 posts | The rule is to prevent leading off not for safety. I would think a competent Umpire would realize player safety over obtaining an advantage(lead-off).It is possible to stay on the bag until the ball is pitched and still get into foul territory. I've been hit while coaching base and had no restriction to stay on the base. So Adding an Orange would prevent what? |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | titanhd, the orange bag at 3B is kind of a joke on my part because of the rule change that the runner could stand on the orange bag at first base and not be considered off the base. I understand what you are saying about leading off vs safety, but the rule is simple and doesn't have ifs, ands, or buts written in. I do consider myself a competent umpire. You will never hear me say that I am a great one even though I have an excellent resume. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 stick8 1992 posts | Besides wearing body armor there’s nothing that will protect a runner at third from getting drilled by someone who pulls the ball real hard. Nancy is correct on the rule. I’ve played and umpired in leagues where you can stand on a line drawn about 3 ft to the foul side of third. But then someone could likely yank it foul as they could fair. So you’re really not protected. Getting drilled at third (or first) is another one of those unintended consequences of playing the game. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | stick8, you are correct as always. I have rarely even seen a runner drilled at 2B; the logic of being off the bag would definitely not work there. When I am doing bases, the scariest one to me is the right handed batter that hits the ball hard to the right side. Those to me are the hardest ones to read and stay away from. What you said reminded me of a sign that I saw at a park in Utah one time: Beware of Errant Softballs. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 stick8 1992 posts | Quick story: while jumping a tourney game several years ago some big hitter yanked one foul and out of play. It struck a woman right in the face as she was walking out of the complex between the diamonds. It was bad, she had to go to the hospital. From that day on whenever I walk out of a complex I always walk backwards facing the fields. You never know. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | See, you jogged my tired memory again. Coachie and I were at Twin Lakes in Bloomington. There is a walkway between the diamonds. A ball fouls out of play on the right field side. Everyone yells "heads up". A couple are walking down the sidewalk. He ducks and gets missed, but she was clocked cold by the ball in the head. She came to, and he took her to the emergency room, but I am sure that she tortured him after that. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 B.J. 1107 posts | as stated above the runner must have contact with the bag until the ball crosses the plate.. I've had teams ask if when a runner is on 3rd if they would be able to step off the bag and I had no problem with that if the other team also agrees.. and if there is a hit the runner must re-tag the bag before advancing.. also a while back we had a runner off 3rd and the batter as stick mentioned ripped a ball about 3 foot foul and caught the runner in the ribs.. as stated above there is NO SAFE PLACE to stand.. I personally think a runner is more alert toeing the bag and standing in foul territory.. it seems some runners do not pay as much attention when they are 3 feet off the bag they seem to think that's safer |
| Oct. 5, 2018 lowprofile 65 posts | Just a thought about this, the line drawn adjacent to the bag sounds like a good idea, only because I feel having to stay on a bag (1st or 3rd) limits somewhat how you prepare yourself or how you stand for a line drive. If there was a line drawn you could better prepare your body in a way that YOU would feel comfortable to moving out of the way of a line drive rather than having one leg locked on a bag. Don't think that it would give that much of an advantage in advancing to the next base or home. just a thought. |
| Oct. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Lowprofile, as BJ said you can get hit anywhere. There is also the consideration that there are rules that apply to runners hit in fair territory. I don't want anyone to get hit ever. I was hit with a line drive once, and if I hadn't turned, it probably would have broken my pelvic bone. It did leave the hugest bruise that I have ever seen. No, it wasn't fun but did luck out. No matter how you tweak the rules, someone will get hit eventually. Fortunately it does not happen that often, at least in the thousands of games that I have been involved in. Now what is crazy is that Utrip changed the rule on a the runner getting hit while on the bag to being a live ball. So he just got hit, and he is supposed to run? Someone explain that to me. BJ, thank you. |
