ogre@whuts.UUCP (LOCOCO) (09/03/85)
> > 1) Man on first base, no outs. Batter hits a line drive to the second > > baseman, who tries to double the runner off first base. However, the > > throw is wild and goes into the dugout. Where does the runner end up? > > Third. > > Rule 7.05: "Each runner including the batter runner may, without liability > > to be put out, advance --" ... > > (g) "Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball > > goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds > > into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting > > part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the wire meshes of > > a screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead. When such wild throw > > is the first play by an infielder, the umpire, in awarding such bases, > > shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the ball was > > pitched; in all other cases the umpire shall be governed by the position of > > the runner at the time the wild throw was made." > > Thus the runner gets two bases from where he was at the time the ball > > was pitched, i.e. third. > > Note that the rule is the same in softball (Rule 8.5g, Official Softball > > Rules). I have *never* played a game of baseball or softball where this > > rule has been properly followed-- everyone always says `one base on an > > overthrow'. Grrrr. > > When I umpired Little League, we were taught to interpret the 2-base rule > "the base he's going to, plus one more". In the situation above, the > runner is going (back) to first base. Thus, he gets a free ride back to > first base, plus gets second base free, for a total of two bases. I'm not > saying that this is the proper interpretation, but that's what we were > taught. The "rule" of "one base on an overthrow" often amounts to the same > thing as the official two-base rule, as the latter is applied with respect > the runner's positions at the time of the throw (or pitch, but not the time > that the ball goes out of play), while the former is generally applied after > the runner reaches or crosses the base at which the play is being made. > > Steve Vegdahl > Computer Research Lab. > Tektronix, Inc. > Beaverton, Oregon Such is why the rule is misused by what they taught you Steve. Many people learn the rule as one plus one, but it should be taught as two bases. When I went to ASA Umpire School, they specifically taught us to interpret the rule as two bases from where the runners were at the time of the pitch (when the throw is made from the infield) or two bases again from where the runners were when the throw was made (when the throw is made from the outfield). I have to Grrrr when I see someone use one base on an overthrow as well. When someone says that, I find it just doesn't pay to argue. \ / |\\ / | | \| | | |\ | | | \| John B. Lo Coco (...whuts!ogre) (...szuxn!ogre) 1-201-467-7436