Case Play 5.2.2A - Huh?

[ukce1861]

While researching appeals in FED because of the BOO thread that NovaScotia posted, I ran across this case play.

B1 hits a ground ball to F6 and continues to run as F6 overthrows first. The ball goes out of play. B1 continues to second and stops at third. The umpire rules that B1 must return to second because the throw by F6 went out of play and B1 had not reached first base at the time of the throw, which was the first play by an infielder. The defense tags B1 with the ball while he is returning to second, stating that because B1 touched a succeeding base (third), he may not return. RULING: No action by the defense during the time the ball is dead can cause a player to be put out. The defense may make a legal dead-ball appeal – per Rule 8-2-6c.

Say what? Are they saying you can or can't call the B1 out? I certainly don't see how you could, but I cannot understand the ruling at all.

[JaxRolo]

I agree. There is no way they can get an out. Dead on overthrow. What is there to appeal???

[Stretch]

The case play has an odd twist having the defense using "a runner cannot return to a base after reaching the next base or beyond, when the ball goes out of play." The runner cannot be called out. The umpire is returning the runner to his awarded base. Now, if the runner missed 1st, then yes you can have a dead ball appeal for that infraction.

[Rich Ives]

He cannot legally return so his return to 2B is not valid and he's out IF APPEALED. Otherwise he's there.

[Stretch]

He isn't returning to "tag-up" or touch a missed base. He is returning to 2nd because that is his award. I do not see the base running infraction that makes this an appealable situation.

[ukce1861]

He isn't returning to "tag-up" or touch a missed base. He is returning to 2nd because that is his award. I do not see the base running infraction that makes this an appealable situation.

Exactly. I'm not sure why the Case Play doesn't just respond that way. I see nothing that could be appealed. I think an analogous example would be a runner returning after an uncaught foul ball. Just because he's already touched the following base, doesn't mean he can't return.

[noumpere]

The defense can make an appeal but that does not mean the runner is going to be out. lol.

Or, maybe there used to be something else in the case like the batter missing first that was dropped and that would make the case make more sense.

I agree that the runner can and should legally return to second and only after that is done can the defense make any appeal and the umpire will rule on that appeal.

And of course theres probably some umpire somewhere who would misinterprit the rule and say that once the runner touched third after the ball went out of play that the appeal should be allowed on him returning to second.