MrBlue2U

I'm with MrBlue here. If, and only if, it's full participation with the pitcher and catcher warming up, I'm not against letting them have their fun for 2 minutes until it's time to actually start the game here. Thanks @TheGeneral. I wouldn't advise letting it go the entire time the pitcher warms up. Give 'em about 5-10 seconds after the anthem ends and then start addressing it. That's plenty of time for their fun. You want to have this mess cleaned up well before the catcher throws the last warmup down to 2B so it doesn't delay the start of the game at all.

It's not two steps. The foot doesn't touch the ground in the first lowering motion. Funky but legal. Not a booger worth picking.

I've had this happen in 5 of my games this year. I've dealt with it two ways, both of which have been effective, one more fun than the other. 1. At the conclusion of the anthem, before the base umpire(s) break from the plate area, shout "Let's go, time to play ball!" I've found that if you say something, they will break up. If they don't then a warning to the manager should do nicely. 2. I've gone over and stood by the players in the standoff and pretended to look off into the distance. They start giggling. I say, "Some pretty nice scenery here, huh fellas?" More giggles. "Let's play some baseball." Party over, game on. Baseball is supposed to be fun, guys - have fun with it until they don't respond to your efforts to get the game going!

What's with all the anger, hate, and judgmentalness? Horses--t? Bush League? Despise this s--t? Let us not forget the fun and magic of playing the game. This is gamesmanship and competition. Don't hate it because it challenges the opponent (OR YOU) to be better. That said, if overdone, it can easily become annoying, but then they lose the element of surprise and start looking foolish.

PS -- I would also agree that some situational umpiring may be in order given that this is Yasiel Puig (or any other uber-talented player with a 10-cent head). Perhaps Welke (or any other MLB ump) wouldn't make this call on any other player, but he did in this case in an attempt to help Puig raise his baserunning IQ. I for one wouldn't blame him, especially in the top of the first inning with no runners on...

Thank you all for the discussion. I said I would offer my opinion, so here it is... In my opinion, the example provided by Puig on this "case play" is about as gray as you can get. He definitely "reacted" to the ball getting away, but you can defensibly argue both out and safe. There is no black and white ruling. I can say that if this were my call to make, I would not call the B-R out. I would base that judgment on these criteria: --There was no definite step toward second base. --The only movement toward second base was an instinctual lean while he read the ball and fielders. -- I expect ballplayers to hustle, and (aside from the lazy stroll back to first base,) this player was hustling, but in my judgment did not make an actual attempt to advance. --The runner certainly showed *intent* to advance, but in my judgment intent does not equal attempt (all runners by their nature have the intention of advancing the basepaths) On the other side of the coin, you could justifiably argue the out call with this criteria: --The B-R did more than simply overrun first base. He reacted to the overthrow, in essence creating the need for the judgment call and giving the umpire the crappy end of the stick. --The whole reason we allow the B-R to overrun first base is to leg out an infield single without injuring himself by stopping on a dime at first base itself. Any sign of intent to advance beyond beating out an infield single equates to an attempt to advance to the next base, and he is subject to being tagged out. I wholeheartedly agree with the comments above that MLB (really any professional baseball) is a different animal with different expectations than the levels that most of us work. I like what @maven had to say -- I won't say that Welke got this call right or wrong, but it wouldn't be overturned if it were replayable. I would really like to be a fly in the lockerroom during the post-game discussion of this play and ruling after the crew reviewed it on video. Thanks again for the input. Have a great season guys, and remember that you're only as good as you are on the next pitch / play. Be prepared for it...

Hi all, I'm a noob to this site and have a rule interpretation discussion to start. Hopefully this is the right place? As you watch this play, try to forget that it is Yasiel Puig and imagine it's a random faceless, nameless kid at the highest level you officiate. Batter slaps an infield single up the middle (draws a throw, which gets away from F3). After overrunning first base, batter-runner "reacts" to seeing that the ball got away. I would suggest you pause the video at this point (when he starts walking back to first base) and ask yourself whether you would call him out if he gets tagged. I'll spoil it for you -- he does get tagged in the video. I'd like to challenge you to form your own opinion without knowing what Tim Welke called on this one, and bring that untainted opinion into the discussion. http://m.mlb.com/video/v32517075/ In your judgment, did he "attempt to run to second?" Why or why not? Do you have specific criteria that you use in making this type of call? I have my opinion and will share it. For now, I'd like to open the floor for discussion. My hope is that a healthy discussion will ensue, where pros and cons of both sides are offered, and by the end of it, you (we, each of us) will be better prepared for how you will make this call the next time you see it happen on your field. The pertinent OBR rule is listed here: 7.08 Any runner is out when: (j) He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or oversliding that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when tagged. If, after overrunning or overs- liding first base he starts toward the dugout, or toward his position, and fails to return to first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he or the base is tagged; Rule 7.08(j) Comment: Runner who touches first base in overrunning and is declared safe by the umpire has, within the intent of Rule 4.09(a) “reached first base†and any run which scores on such a play counts, even though the runner subsequently becomes the third out for failure to return “at once,†as covered in Rule 7.08(j). 2014_official_baseball_rules.pdf The pertinent NCAA rule is listed here: Rule 8, Section 5 A runner is out when: b. After reaching first base safely, the runner leaves the baseline in an obvious move to continue an attempt to advance to the next base and is tagged 2013-14 NCAA Baseball Rules Book.pdf I don't have access to a FED rulebook, sorry.

Lots of good points made above. I would encourage umpires to issue warnings around balk and ball/strike arguments prior to ejecting, even though the rulebook says they can't do it. Your mantra should be to be approachable and keep them in the game and let them eject themselves. The only automatic ejections should be around egregious acts like profane personal insults, attacks on your integrity, and/or showing you up. If the coach is asking a question, answer it. If he is suggesting a balk should be called and you don't have one, briefly explain why. Don't let conversations drag on during an inning. Give him your explanation, and if he continues to argue (doesn't head back to the dugout or coach's box), tell him that he's not allowed to argue balks. Try to get the game going again and if necessary (if he's being polite / professional), tell him you'll discuss it between innings. If he keeps going, WARN him that he's not allowed to argue balks. By now, if he keeps going, you have defensible grounds for ejection. People Skills are vital to managing the situations that arise in a baseball game. You shouldn't try to hide behind a rule that says "you can't do such and such" and drop the banhammer at the first sign of a complaint. Work with the coaches and *manage* these situations, and you will earn their respect. As for the step, I've been taught that the rule of thumb for the "distance" portion of distance and direction is roughly 12 inches (the length of the pitcher's foot). If his foot came down roughly 12 inches closer to second base than it was when he lifted it, then you can argue that he gained ground, even if it wasn't very much ground.