Base path in a pickle

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Jun 20, 2012
438
18
SoCal
Does the runner's base path "reset" when caught in a pickle every time the ball is thrown? Saw a girl get caught in a rundown between 3B and HP on a pick-off throw by the catcher. By the end of play, the ball had been thrown back and forth 6 or 7 times, and the runner had been 12-14 feet away from her original base path before making it safely back to 3B. Per the umpire, she was staying within the 3 feet of her base path and that it reset every time the ball was thrown to the next player, so eventually (given enough throws) she could be that far off the original base path and still be in compliance.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
It resets every time the runner reverses direction, has nothing to do with the ball being thrown.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Does the runner's base path "reset" when caught in a pickle every time the ball is thrown? Saw a girl get caught in a rundown between 3B and HP on a pick-off throw by the catcher. By the end of play, the ball had been thrown back and forth 6 or 7 times, and the runner had been 12-14 feet away from her original base path before making it safely back to 3B. Per the umpire, she was staying within the 3 feet of her base path and that it reset every time the ball was thrown to the next player, so eventually (given enough throws) she could be that far off the original base path and still be in compliance.

If it were my team, I would be more worried about teaching my defenders how to get a runner out in less then 6 or 7 throws then the umps ruling.
 
Feb 18, 2014
348
28
Does the runner's base path "reset" when caught in a pickle every time the ball is thrown? Saw a girl get caught in a rundown between 3B and HP on a pick-off throw by the catcher. By the end of play, the ball had been thrown back and forth 6 or 7 times, and the runner had been 12-14 feet away from her original base path before making it safely back to 3B. Per the umpire, she was staying within the 3 feet of her base path and that it reset every time the ball was thrown to the next player, so eventually (given enough throws) she could be that far off the original base path and still be in compliance.

If it were my team, I would be more worried about teaching my defenders how to get a runner out in less then 6 or 7 throws then the umps ruling.

How do you teach them without knowing the rules first? Kinda a jerkish comment.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
How do you teach them without knowing the rules first? Kinda a jerkish comment.

I'm with chinamigarden on this. 6-7 throws, and the runner still makes it safely to the base is a defensive failure which has nothing to do with the rules regarding allowable base path. That many throws tells me that the defensive players are staying back at the bases and just throwing the ball, rather than moving their feet to squeeze the runner. Proper defensive execution of a pickle play would be high on my list for the next team practice.
 
Apr 3, 2013
54
6
I'm with chinamigarden on this. 6-7 throws, and the runner still makes it safely to the base is a defensive failure which has nothing to do with the rules regarding allowable base path. That many throws tells me that the defensive players are staying back at the bases and just throwing the ball, rather than moving their feet to squeeze the runner. Proper defensive execution of a pickle play would be high on my list for the next team practice.

I agree. Way too many throws. Actually surprised they made that many without an error occurring and the run scoring. Ha


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May 17, 2012
2,804
113
A pickle should only take two throws maximum. One throw if you do it right. Any more than two and you are doing it wrong.
 
Jun 20, 2012
438
18
SoCal
If it were my team, I would be more worried about teaching my defenders how to get a runner out in less then 6 or 7 throws then the umps ruling.

How do you teach them without knowing the rules first? Kinda a jerkish comment.

I'm with chinamigarden on this. 6-7 throws, and the runner still makes it safely to the base is a defensive failure which has nothing to do with the rules regarding allowable base path. That many throws tells me that the defensive players are staying back at the bases and just throwing the ball, rather than moving their feet to squeeze the runner. Proper defensive execution of a pickle play would be high on my list for the next team practice.

And had this been the "Coaching Softball" forum, that would probably be an appropriate response. But this is the "Softball Rules Questions" forum, and the response is a out-of-place. It would be akin to someone asking a question about dropped-3rd-strike and someone responding with "coach your player to not strike out." Doesn't really help.
 

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