Can a fielder get a forced runner out by touching the base with his empty glove (while worn properly) while securely holding the ball in his bare hand? The reason this is being debated is; the Manual from the Brinkman-Froeming school says it is an out, yet some people who have Jim Evans' annotated rules; claim that he says it is not an out because the glove cannot be used as an extension of the hand. Who is correct?
PBUC answer: Runner is out.
A batter is obviously trying desperately to avoid being hit by a pitch. His foot lands completely out of the batter's box and the pitch hits his bat. He is not attempting to hit the ball. Is he out? Is it a foul if it goes foul? Is it a fair ball if it goes fair?
PBUC answer: Don't call batter-runner out (He did not deliberately step out of batter's box to hit pitch). Result of batted would stand (fair or foul)
Same situation as above but as he is ducking the pitch he drops the bat and the pitch hits the bat while it is not in the batter's hands. What is the call?
PBUC answer: Same as above
Jim Evans says that on ball 4, even if it is a passed ball and the batter sprints to first base, the batter-runner may not overrun first base without liability to be put out. "Baseball's Knotty Problems" book says he can. What is the current ruling?
PBUC answer: Batter-Runner may not overrun on ball four, because he is protected to 1B, difference between strike 3 w/passed ball is that he is in jeopardy of being thrown out on strike three.
PBUC answer: If we were working for NAPBL as umpires; we would be instructed to allow the runner to come back out of the dugout to correct a baserunning mistake if he does it in a timely manner. Once he has walked away from the plate and/or gone into the dugout, the defense does not have to tag him. They need only appeal.The runner can come back out, but does NOT have to be tagged and he can't be in the dugout beyond a reasonable amount of time (umpire's judgment) and then come out.
Batter hits a grounder in the infield. The throw pulls F3 off the base, but he catches the ball. He is pulled to the infield side of first in fair territory. BR avoids F3's tag attempt legally, but in doing so, misses first base as he overruns it down the right field line. BR makes no attempt to advance and immediately turns around to head back to first base. F3 after missing on the first tag attempt, starts to run after BR but, stops and turns around and runs back and touches first base, but says nothing. What is the call? Is BR out or safe. Is this an unmistakable appeal or not?
PBUC answer: Umpire's judgment. If you believe he was appealing. Call the runner out.
Jim Booth's comment:
In my judgment - on this play I would call it an appeal. F3 knew BR missed the tag, otherwise why did he start to give chase? He knew BR missed first, otherwise why would he decide to simply touch the base? It is an appeal since BR missed the base. So, I'd call BR out.
2 outs and a fly is hit to F3. He bobbles and juggles the ball and eventually traps it between his upper arm and side, near the armpit. He keeps it there and trots toward his dugout which is on the third base side. As he gets to the mound he lifts his arm and drops the ball intentionally and continues toward the dugout. The umpire ruled no catch, which I'm pretty sure is correct. He never had the ball securely in his hand or glove. The debate we had was this; I say it would be ruled a catch if he took the ball from his side and held it in his bare hand and then intentionally dropped it. Another person says it can never be a catch if you first trap it against your side. Who is correct?
PBUC answer: You are, Jim. This is a catch.
Jim Booth's comment:
For what it's worth, Rick Roder said the same thing and so did a former minor league ump that I know.
Runners at second and third, two out. Batter grounds to the first baseman, who fields the ball and runs to first base, arriving at the bag just ahead of the runner (a bang-bang play but clearly the first baseman arrived first). The runner collides with the fielder at the base, both falling to the ground. Contact, or impact with the ground knock the ball loose. Umpire calls the runner safe, and allows the two runs to score, saying that the fielder lost control of the ball. What is the correct call?
PBUC answer: This play almost needs to be seen. However, the way you write it I would call the runner out. The reason; the 1B had possession of the ball and once he stepped on 1B the batter-runner is out, as long as he is not bobbling the ball as he steps on the bag.
Please don't think I'm arguing with you, I am just a bit confused. I have a book that supposedly was used at the Brinkman-Froeming school and it has the following plays as examples. The difference is that these are examples of throws; not touches after fielding a batted ball. Does that make a difference? We amateurs just want to understand the basis of how to judge a touch.
Here's what is in the book and what I posted on my web site: On page 9 it says:
the fielder must show complete control of the ball during and AFTER the touch.
It is referring to the touch of a base OR a runner.
It says
If, during or after the touch and before voluntary release has been shown, the ball is bobbled or dropped, it is not a tag.
It is referring to the tag of a base or runner.
The examples are pretty clear:
What is different about the play I asked you about. Are the above examples right or wrong per current interpretation?
PBUC answer: First, let me emphasize that the co-authors of the manual once used at the Brinkman-Froemming Umpires School, are very close friends of mine. Mr. Roder in particular, is like a brother. Having said that, their manual is only their interpretation of official playing rules and is nowhere near an official teaching tool used by professional baseball. It is however, a very efficient means for umpires across the board, but the manual should not be used as an "official" interpretation.As I said this play needs to be seen, but keep it simple! As we should with every play.
The umpire must judge whether he had possession once he has touched the base. You would not want to give the runner liberty to go after fielders to jar loose the ball on a simple force play. That is exactly what they would teach (the runner) if you make the fielder "voluntary release". I cannot speak for Jaksa/Roder interpretation, but, I would hope that when they refer to touch, they are referring to the touch of the runner and in those instances yes there must be a voluntary release.
1) For rules purposes; do "declare" and "call" mean the same thing? Such as; declare the runner out. And call the runner out?
2) Rule 6.09(b) comment says that the batter "SHALL be out" when he reaches the dugout steps or enters the dugout.
Does the umpire "call" or "declare" the batter out the moment when he enters the dugout? Or, does the umpire need to wait for first base to be tagged?
Bottom line: When is the batter out when he goes into the dugout, and what is the proper mechanic?
PBUC answer: Yes, declare and call are one in the same. The batter-runner is declared out once he reaches the dugout, simply make an "out" signal. In this case 1B does not need to be tagged.