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tagging up When Can a Runner Leave the Base when Tagging Up?
NotSoRealMcCoy posted a question in Ask the Umpire
Although I came across this situation in a city league softball game, I assume the rule would be the same across all leagues. Less than two outs, runner on third (or really any base), batter hits fly ball to an outfielder and the runner is tagging up. The fly ball hits the outfielder's glove and immediately pops up in the air a few feet, however the fielder then catches the ball on the way down before the ball hits the ground (so the batter is out). At which point can the runner tagging up legally leave the base; at the point the fielder first touched the ball or at the completion of the catch? A similar situation would be if after hitting the outfielder's glove, a second fielder actually ends catching the ball before it hits the ground (again, the batter is out). Does the runner have to wait until the ball is caught by the second fielder before leaving the base or can the runner leave when the ball initially touched the first fielder? And one last scenario: the batter lines a pitched ball that ricochets off the pitcher, causing the ball, never having touched the ground, to pop way up in the air, still in the infield. If a potential infield fly rule situation was in effect for this batter, could the IFR be applied here? I've asked several amateur umpires these questions and have received a medley of responses. Thanks. -
Two questions arose in a game I was coaching tonight, and I am looking for some clarification. First, one of my base runners stepped off the base while the pitcher was in his delivery motion and the umpire stopped the game and called the runner out. I had never heard of this interpretation of the rule before, but the umpire assured me that was the rule. Can anyone shed any light on this one? The second involves the pitchers motion. The team we were playing had their pitchers stopping their motion when their "non-plant leg" was (left leg for RH pitchers) was at the top of their kick motion. I did not think the pitcher could stop his motion during the pitch, but the coach for the other team pointed out the Japanese pitchers in the LLWS seem to stop for a couple of seconds. Can you tell me why this move is legal and not a balk? Thanks.
