Bases loaded walk, runner misses home plate, gets tagged out!

[Guest Hershel G.]

Weird play happened in our CA Little League game today.

 

Minors division game (8-9 year olds). One out, bases loaded. Batter draws a walk. Runner on third goes home, then heads to the dugout. It's less than 10 feet from home plate to the dugout. As he walks to the dugout (he's maybe halfway there?), the opposing manager screams to the ump, "the runner missed home plate." I'm not sure exactly HOW the umpire reacted (supposedly he said something like, "OK"), but in any case, the pitcher (who by this time now had the ball back from the catcher) threw the ball to the catcher again. As this was going on, the runner was told by his coaches to go back and touch home plate (just to be sure?). The catcher met him at home and tagged him out just before he got his foot onto home plate. The umpire called him out!

 

The other manager protested, saying that after ball four it's a dead ball, and the runner should be allowed to go back and touch home safely, since he hadn't made it into the dugout and was still on the field of play. He also argued by asking "well how long after he misses home can he be tagged out? What if he literally walks right OVER home without touching, and in that split second after crossing home "without touching it" he is tagged by the catcher before he can retreat back one step...should that be an out too?

[blue23ll]

Unless you are playing using some weird house rules, the ball is NOT dead on ball four, it is live and in play. The runner, if not in the dugout can still return to tag the plate, and he is liable to be put out until he does.

[BigUmpire]

Some rule sets state the runners is out after he leaves the dirt circle

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[Rich Ives]

Some rule sets state the runners is out after he leaves the dirt circle

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Are you confusing this with the uncaught third strike rule?

[johnnyg08]

 

Weird play happened in our CA Little League game today.

 

Minors division game (8-9 year olds). One out, bases loaded. Batter draws a walk. Runner on third goes home, then heads to the dugout. It's less than 10 feet from home plate to the dugout. As he walks to the dugout (he's maybe halfway there?), the opposing manager screams to the ump, "the runner missed home plate." I'm not sure exactly HOW the umpire reacted (supposedly he said something like, "OK"), but in any case, the pitcher (who by this time now had the ball back from the catcher) threw the ball to the catcher again. As this was going on, the runner was told by his coaches to go back and touch home plate (just to be sure?). The catcher met him at home and tagged him out just before he got his foot onto home plate. The umpire called him out!

 

The other manager protested, saying that after ball four it's a dead ball, and the runner should be allowed to go back and touch home safely, since he hadn't made it into the dugout and was still on the field of play. He also argued by asking "well how long after he misses home can he be tagged out? What if he literally walks right OVER home without touching, and in that split second after crossing home "without touching it" he is tagged by the catcher before he can retreat back one step...should that be an out too?

 

 

 

I've got an out.  I don't have time to explain all the reasons why the "other manager" is wrong.  

[grayhawk]

The umpire ruled correctly. In the case where a runner misses home, he must be tagged if he's trying to return to touch it. The coach of the defense should have waited for the runner to enter the dugout and then told his players to throw home and touch the plate while verbally telling the umpire that R3 missed. In that case, the runner could not legally return to touch.

Of course the ball isn't dead on ball 4. That's just a coach reaching for any reason to have the run score. Some of them will make up the wackiest things while in the moment.

[maven]

I had a missed base appeal on a HR Saturday. BR "touched 'em all," went into the dugout, and removed his helmet. His 3BC called him back out to touch, and the defensive coach was getting ready to appeal ("get on the rubber and throw it home..").

 

I ignored the BR coming back onto the field, which didn't mean anything. I reminded coach that he could appeal verbally during the dead ball. So he did, and I denied it: the BR's heel had touched the plate.

 

Of course, he wanted to argue that I must have missed it: "Why would coach call his runner back onto the field to touch if he didn't miss it?" Cause he had the same angle as you, coach!

 

Naturally, he didn't believe that I had seen the touch.

[CricketChapman]

 

Naturally, he didn't believe that I had seen the touch.

I once had an EJ on a missed-HP appeal.  Close game going bottom 5; VT gives up 7 runs and is appealing the 7th run.  I deny the appeal.  Manager pronounces to everyone, "You didn't see it BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION!"  See ya.