Lost Runner Play

This is a common 1st and 3rd play. You don’t need a “lost runner”. Most teams try to get the runner to second either on the walk or a steal the next at bat. The plan is to draw a throw to second and the runner at third scores. Eventually teams have set plays to defend it, but I see it work fairly often even at the college level.

This thread reminds me of a play from a few weeks ago. It was all accidental, but it made me realize that it could potentially work if done on purpose.

Both players involved in this on my team are inexperienced. Not sure on the other team, but I do know their catcher was pretty good.

2-2 count with a runner on first. Batter takes a ball, thinks it's ball 4, drops the bat and heads to first. The runner on first casually starts walking to second. Halfway down the line, and with people on all sides shouting various thing, the batter realizes it wasn't ball four. At that point, the other team starts to realize we have a runner wandering between first and second. So I yell for her to run, she does, safe at second. Weirdest stolen base I've seen. I don't think I would ever tell a batter to pretend ball 3 is ball 4 though.

Similarly, I was coaching third and we had runners on 2nd and 3rd. Ball 4, and our runner on third started walking toward home, either forgetting it wasn't a force or forgetting there wasn't a runner on first. I stopped her and had her get back to third, but I'm pretty sure if she had just played it cool and jogged home casually she would've scored before the other team realized what was happening.

What I've learned is that even experienced players will doubt themselves if the other player is doing something confidently.

MTR said:

No such rule

Click to expand...

Interesting, I've read that it's a rule violation to run the bases backwards (when not tagging up or returning to a missed base) and the reasoning says it makes a travesty of the game. I thought maybe this did too.

Sent from my Z832 using Tapatalk

KCPhoto said:

Interesting, I've read that it's a rule violation to run the bases backwards (when not tagging up or returning to a missed base) and the reasoning says it makes a travesty of the game. I thought maybe this did too.

Sent from my Z832 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

The only place "travesty" is mentioned is when it states (USA 8.3.D) a runner may not run the bases in " reverse order to confuse the defense or make a travesty of the game. " The rule is specific and does not allow for the umpire to arbitrarily apply a non-existing rule anytime a runner does something for which the umpire did not care.

If you ever hear of an umpire citing the "travesty rule", that individual is either not an umpire, not bothered to get the proper training, doesn't care to get the rules right or using the MSU rule book.

KCPhoto said:

This is Little League baseball, so no look back rule. I don't know how long blue gives a runner to get back on a base when pitcher gets on the rubber.

Sent from my Z832 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

What do you mean there is no look back rule in Little League? Rule 7.08 section 5 note 2 is essentially the look back rule. She must advance or return immediately. If she's wandering and acting confused in the outfield I think she'd be in violation unless her "confusion" is continually taking her toward second base.

The plan seems dumb either way. If the team is smart enough not to throw to second base on a continuation after the walk, I doubt they are going to chase a girl around in right field.

Under LL rules Travesty is also mentioned for intentionally trying to play poorly to prolong or shorten a game to avoid meeting mandatory play requirements.

I assumed they meant LL baseball, could be wrong.

You are correct. He said it was LL in a later post.