1st and 3rd situation question

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Mar 11, 2009
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In a first and third situation the runner on first steals second, running at 75%, catcher immediately throws back to pitcher in circle letting runner take 2nd base. Runner rounds 2nd base passes bag then stops and goes back to the second base bag. Field umpire stops play and calls runner out because pitcher had ball in circle when runner rounded second base stopped then went back to the bag. Is this the correct call?
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
No, as long as it happened just like you described. The runner can't stop momentarily at 2B or stop too long when deciding to go back but rounding the back stopping then immediately going back to 2B is OK. Otherwise as soon as the pitcher got the ball in the circle all runners would have to stop (Assuming this is not 8U Rec and they have a local rule stating this).
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
Once the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle, the base-runner has two choices once she has rounded the bases...she can either immediately return to the last base upon stopping or continue on. Either way, she is still able to be put out with a throw to that base. Assuming that a throw wasn't made, the base-runner should be safe upon returning immediately to the base. If she hesitated even by the minutest amount, it now becomes a judgment call with the umpires and pretty much you're dependent upon them which means if they are inexperienced, you're probably screwed.
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Once the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle, the base-runner has two choices once she has rounded the bases...she can either immediately return to the last base upon stopping or continue on. Either way, she is still able to be put out with a throw to that base. Assuming that a throw wasn't made, the base-runner should be safe upon returning immediately to the base. If she hesitated even by the minutest amount, it now becomes a judgment call with the umpires and pretty much you're dependent upon them which means if they are inexperienced, you're probably screwed.

Sidebar: If the pitcher makes a defensive move with the ball, the "look back" rule no longer applies.
 
Oct 25, 2013
90
8
DFW Area
Once the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle, the base-runner has two choices once she has rounded the bases...she can either immediately return to the last base upon stopping or continue on. Either way, she is still able to be put out with a throw to that base. Assuming that a throw wasn't made, the base-runner should be safe upon returning immediately to the base. If she hesitated even by the minutest amount, it now becomes a judgment call with the umpires and pretty much you're dependent upon them which means if they are inexperienced, you're probably screwed.

"hesitated even by the minutest amount" --- for most umps, "immediately" (what is in the rule) probably means 1 second minimum, and maybe as long as 2 seconds for the younger girls. The runner need to be allowed to round the base, stop, assess, then decide to go fwd or back.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
"hesitated even by the minutest amount" --- for most umps, "immediately" (what is in the rule) probably means 1 second minimum, and maybe as long as 2 seconds for the younger girls. The runner need to be allowed to round the base, stop, assess, then decide to go fwd or back.

3afan...I agree with you. However, I've seen umps simply call the girl out for not stopping on the base because they didn't understand the rule.
 

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