Lookback Rule on steal with no play

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Jun 4, 2018
1
0
12U game under ASA rules. R1 on 3b, R2 on 1B. R2 steals second base and rounds the base because catcher returned the ball immediately to the pitcher inside the circle before R2 reaches 2b. R2 stops after rounding 2b and then returns to 2b. Umpire calls R2 out on lookback rule. Is this the correct call?
 
Jun 4, 2014
159
28
1. That's not a steal - that's defensive indifference.
2. If the lookback call was made simply because of the rounding, then that is also incorrect.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
If she rounded, stopped and immediately returned to 2nd wrong call.

If she stopped at 2nd then left the bag, correct call.

If she rounded, stopped and delayed in returning to 2nd or made over to 3rd before returning to 2nd, correct call.
 
Jul 13, 2014
89
8
Nashville, TN
1. That's not a steal - that's defensive indifference.
2. If the lookback call was made simply because of the rounding, then that is also incorrect.

I am sympathetic to the opinion that it should not be ruled a steal, however....according to the rules, it is scored as a stolen base.

Also, wrong call. Runner is allowed 1 stop before running back to base or ahead to next base.
 
Last edited:
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
I am sympathetic to the opinion that it should not be ruled a steal, however....according to the rules, it is scored as a stolen base.

Also, wrong call. Runner is allowed 1 stop before running back to base or ahead to next base.
I have always wondered about this. Can you explain to me what is defensive indifference?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I am sympathetic to the opinion that it should not be ruled a steal, however....according to the rules, it is scored as a stolen base.

Also, wrong call. Runner is allowed 1 stop before running back to base or ahead to next base.

What rule book? Certainly not this one:

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Stats_Manuals/Baseball/baseball_softball_scorebook.pdf

Section 11a (3)

(3) No stolen base shall be credited to a runner whose advance is the result of the opposing team’s indifference.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I have always wondered about this. Can you explain to me what is defensive indifference?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

No throw, no stolen base. The defense is conceding the base. Runners at corners, runner at 1st base jogs to 2nd base trying to draw a throw. That is not a stolen base unless you are cooking the books.
 
Jul 13, 2014
89
8
Nashville, TN
What rule book? Certainly not this one:

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Stats_Manuals/Baseball/baseball_softball_scorebook.pdf

Section 11a (3)

(3) No stolen base shall be credited to a runner whose advance is the result of the opposing team’s indifference.

There is more to the rule:

MLB 10.07.
(g) The official scorer shall not score a stolen base when a runner advances solely because of the defensive team's indifference to the runner’s advance. The official scorer shall score such a play as a fielder's choice.
Rule 10.07(g) Comment: The scorer shall consider, in judging whether the defensive team has been indifferent to a runner’s advance, the totality of the circumstances, including the inning and score of the game, whether the defensive team had held the runner on base, whether the pitcher had made any pickoff attempts on that runner before the runner’s advance, whether the fielder ordinarily expected to cover the base to which the runner advanced made a move to cover such base, whether the defensive team had a legitimate strategic motive to not contest the runner’s advance or whether the defensive team might be trying impermissibly to deny the runner credit for a stolen base. For example, with runners on first and third bases, the official scorer should ordinarily credit a stolen base when the runner on first advances to second, if, in the scorer’s judgment, the defensive team had a legitimate strategic motive—namely, preventing the runner on third base from scoring on the throw to second base—not to contest the runner’s advance to second base. The official scorer may conclude that the defensive team is impermissibly trying to deny a runner credit for a stolen base if, for example, the defensive team fails to defend the advance of a runner approaching a league or career record or a league statistical title.
 
Jul 13, 2014
89
8
Nashville, TN
No throw, no stolen base. The defense is conceding the base. Runners at corners, runner at 1st base jogs to 2nd base trying to draw a throw. That is not a stolen base unless you are cooking the books.

There are situations where a SB is awarded with no throw:
-Runner is off with pitch, pitch is passed ball or WP
-Runner is off with the pitch, catcher decides against throwing because she decides throw will not be in time
-Runner is off with the pitch, no one covers the base, catcher doesn't throw


I agree that if runner is jogging to second solely to bait a throw, the intent is not to steal, and in this case, I would not award SB
 

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