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Post by bombersbomb on Jun 16, 2011 20:40:21 GMT -8
Hey Rob,
As you, Chris, and Bruce know about the situational play that we had during out game last Sunday, I thought it would be a good idea if you explained the rule for everyone so that it is called and known by all other players and umpires.
The situation:
Runner rounding third and coming home. Throw from out on the outfield grass to the catcher covering home plate. The catcher is taking the throw blocking the plate and mat to catch the ball and tag the runner. Ball bounces off catcher's mitt and hits runner as the runner plows into the catcher (sliding)...Runner doesn't touch the plate or mat and the catcher picks the ball up that is right besides him and tags the runner before any home surface is touched.
The ruling...
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Post by bombersbomb on Jul 6, 2011 23:34:46 GMT -8
Well the ruling is that the runner is out...but if any of the umpires will explain further maybe that might help others out
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Post by X-Commish on Jul 12, 2011 19:50:35 GMT -8
Yes that would be an out. If this played out and the call was missed on accident, there's nothing to go over. But if the call was missed due to a rules misunderstanding, this should clarify. Catchers may only block the plate if the ball is imminent.
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Post by Chris Galbreath on Jul 12, 2011 21:31:34 GMT -8
correct and my apologies bombers bomb i did not see your post otherwise i would have replied sooner
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Post by newump on Jul 13, 2011 10:59:02 GMT -8
I just wanted to throw in my view as the umpire that made the call. I was standing right by the plate as the play came in. The catcher was legally in position to receive the ball as it was being thrown in from the direction of third base. The runner was hit in their back with the ball and then the ball ricocheted toward the catcher. The runner slid/fell into the catcher and the mat was moved significantly by the runner and/or the catcher. Both players were on the ground in a heap and the catcher gained control of the ball. I made the call as safe because, in my opinion, the runner had contacted the mat before the catcher had control of the ball. It was a very fast series of events and I called it as I saw it.
For clarification, I know that when a regular base is dislodged the runner is safe as long as they are in contact with the dislodged base or the area where the base is normally sitting. Is this not the case with the home plate mat? If the mat is somehow moved out of its normal position, shouldn't the runner be able to "touch" where the mat is supposed to be?
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Post by dtilzey on Jul 13, 2011 14:37:59 GMT -8
For clarification, the ASA rule is ambiguous enough that a baserunner who dislodges a base doesn't have to be in the spot where the base was when the play is made. If the base becomes dislodged during the play, it doesn't matter where he ends up. I would assume that this is true even if (especially if?) a defensive player caused the base to be dislodged. Since we consider the home plate mat as a "base" for the runners, this would be true for the play described above. The actual rule from ASA rulebook reads:  Rule 8, Section 8(N). "THE RUNNER IS NOT OUT:
n. When he slides into a base and dislodges it from its proper position. The base is considered to have followed the runner.
NOTE: A runner reaching a base safely will not be out for being off that base, if it becomes dislodged. He may return to that base without liability to be put out when the base has been replaced. A runner forfeits this exemption, if he attempts to advance beyond the dislodged base before it is again in proper position."
Another note to remember is that if a runner dislodges a base while rounding the bag and continues, any following runner is not required to touch the base while running during the same play. Rule 8, Section 3(C) states. "When a runner dislodges a base from its proper position, neither the runner nor the succeeding runners in the same series of plays are compelled to follow a base out of position." |
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