- Nov 1, 2008
- 223
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We ran into a situation yesterday in a tournament and i wasn't sure how to address the situation with the umpires so we let it go and of course the runner eventually scored....as is ALWAYS the case when a runner should have been declared out and wasn't.
A batter walked with no other runners on base. She advanced to first and rounded as though going towards second, but returned to first. The pitcher had the ball in her possession inside the circle prior to the runner reaching first base and made no play on the runner.
In accordance with 5:01 (E) in the Dixie rule book, the runner should have been out.
"If, after the pitcher has possession of the ball within the eight-foot (8') RADIUS
circle, the baserunner starts back to the last base she legally occupied or forward to
another base, and then stops or reverses her direction, she is OUT, unless the pitcher
makes a play on her or another baserunner. If the pitcher makes a play on the
baserunner, the baserunner may stop or reverse her direction"
The umpire at first made some gestures to the runner and spoke to her, but didn't declare her out. I called for time and asked the home plate umpire "Isn't she out? She rounded the base with the pitcher in the circle?" The home plate umpire said "It's his call all the way" and pointed to the first base umpire who pointed at me and said "Runner's safe, play ball." It was pretty obvious that he did not intend to discuss it so i stepped back into the dugout.
Now, i'm not stupid enough to argue balls and strikes, but when there is no "judgement" involved on the play how do you deal with an umpire who blatantly ignores a rule? The home plate umpire's reaction was clear to me "don't blame me, blame him" I don't wanna get thrown out of a game, but this is the sort of thing that drives me nuts. They're supposed to know the rules and we're supposed to play by those rules. Why even have rules if they aren't gonna enforce them? What would you guys have done in this situation? How do i plead my case without getting tossed?
A batter walked with no other runners on base. She advanced to first and rounded as though going towards second, but returned to first. The pitcher had the ball in her possession inside the circle prior to the runner reaching first base and made no play on the runner.
In accordance with 5:01 (E) in the Dixie rule book, the runner should have been out.
"If, after the pitcher has possession of the ball within the eight-foot (8') RADIUS
circle, the baserunner starts back to the last base she legally occupied or forward to
another base, and then stops or reverses her direction, she is OUT, unless the pitcher
makes a play on her or another baserunner. If the pitcher makes a play on the
baserunner, the baserunner may stop or reverse her direction"
The umpire at first made some gestures to the runner and spoke to her, but didn't declare her out. I called for time and asked the home plate umpire "Isn't she out? She rounded the base with the pitcher in the circle?" The home plate umpire said "It's his call all the way" and pointed to the first base umpire who pointed at me and said "Runner's safe, play ball." It was pretty obvious that he did not intend to discuss it so i stepped back into the dugout.
Now, i'm not stupid enough to argue balls and strikes, but when there is no "judgement" involved on the play how do you deal with an umpire who blatantly ignores a rule? The home plate umpire's reaction was clear to me "don't blame me, blame him" I don't wanna get thrown out of a game, but this is the sort of thing that drives me nuts. They're supposed to know the rules and we're supposed to play by those rules. Why even have rules if they aren't gonna enforce them? What would you guys have done in this situation? How do i plead my case without getting tossed?