BR called out due to stopping and taking steps back towards HP

[labguy1971]

Hello, former coach and now and umpire for 3 years.  This happened to my team when coaching and did not get a good answer from umpire making the call or can not find in rule book, so please help.

 

Runner on 2nd with BR hitting slow roller between pitcher and 1st base.  BR  runs up 1st base line and then stops and backs up towards home a couple of steps as pitcher fields ball and pursues him towards home.  Pitcher than throws ball to 3rd base to attempt out on runner advancing there, anyways ball is overthrown and R2 scores with BR reaching 2B.  Plate umpire than calls out BR for backing up between 1st and home.  I questioned as a coach and than asked my head trainer a few weeks later and he told me that the call was wrong and possibly is a soft ball rule.  I could not find a rule to suport the call that umpire made.

[grozzly]

Under OBR, BR can step back towards home but can't retouch it...You can have a rundown between HP and 1st base. BR is out if he retouches HP, but can't be call out  for stopping and running back towards home. Wrong call. 

[labguy1971]

Under OBR, BR can step back towards home but can't touch it...You can have a rundown between HP and 1st base. BR is out if he retouches HP, but can't be call out  for stopping and running back towards home. Wrong call. 

Thanks, that is what I was thinking but was not sure.

[grayhawk]

Under OBR, BR can step back towards home but can't retouch it...You can have a rundown between HP and 1st base. BR is out if he retouches HP, but can't be call out for stopping and running back towards home. Wrong call.

Not just OBR, but all baseball. This is, in fact, a softball rule.

[labguy1971]

 

Under OBR, BR can step back towards home but can't retouch it...You can have a rundown between HP and 1st base. BR is out if he retouches HP, but can't be call out for stopping and running back towards home. Wrong call.

Not just OBR, but all baseball. This is, in fact, a softball rule.

 

Cool, both of you guys were quite helpful, when I talked with the umpire that made the call he was quite certain and I told him that I disagree but did not argue further.  When I spoke with the head trainer with my associaton a few weeks later, he stated what you guys said.  Thanks again!!!

[grozzly]

 

Under OBR, BR can step back towards home but can't retouch it...You can have a rundown between HP and 1st base. BR is out if he retouches HP, but can't be call out for stopping and running back towards home. Wrong call.

Not just OBR, but all baseball. This is, in fact, a softball rule.

 

 

 

Excuse me if i only talk about OBR. Here in France, all other codes doesn't exist.  

[Cav]

 

 

This is, in fact, a softball rule.

 

 

Calvin ball.

[maven]

Cool, both of you guys were quite helpful, when I talked with the umpire that made the call he was quite certain and I told him that I disagree but did not argue further.  When I spoke with the head trainer with my associaton a few weeks later, he stated what you guys said.  Thanks again!!!

The situation where a coach is right about the rules is an unfortunate one. If your situation permits protests, then you have a valid one. If not, then all you can do is ask the umpires to get together and hope they get it right. If not, you can either stick around to try to overcome this bit of adversity, or you can get yourself ejected....

[johnnyg08]

If not, you can either stick around to try to overcome this bit of adversity, or you can get yourself ejected....

If it's youth baseball don't stick around and get ejected, even if you're right, you're going to look like a tool.

Sometimes it's okay to feel fortunate for having an umpire(s) at your field at all.

[Majordave]

Hey @grozzly

Thanks for weighing in. From France. I don't know how good the baseball is in France but you at least only have to digest and remember a single rules code.

@Cav. Loved Calvin and Hobbes. Calvinball is awesome.

[johnnyg08]

It is an insanely common baseball myth that must be broken.  There are lots of good reasons why it is important that we do not call the runner out on these plays.  In a force situation, a player should never run into a tag.  

 

Since the myth is so pervasive as the runner starts to retreat, a safe signal might be a good mechanic here letting everybody know that you know the rule. 

[basejester]

I've literally never heard anyone enforce or state this myth. Maybe it's regional?

[johnnyg08]

I've literally never heard anyone enforce or state this myth. Maybe it's regional?

 

@basejester, you're lucky.  I see it several times per season.  I've heard it from dugouts up to the NCAA D2 level.  I hear it most often in the FED games.  It amazes me. 

 

There must be umpires out there still enforcing the myth.  

[maven]

I see it periodically. Many umpires around here work both baseball and softball, and many of those fail to distinguish adequately between the rule codes.

[johnnyg08]

I see it periodically. Many umpires around here work both baseball and softball, and many of those fail to distinguish adequately between the rule codes.

 

You're right @maven.  I wonder if it works the other way too?

 

Are there baseball umpires who work softball who don't get the immediate out on the retreat in a softball game?  

[maven]

 

I see it periodically. Many umpires around here work both baseball and softball, and many of those fail to distinguish adequately between the rule codes.

 

You're right @maven.  I wonder if it works the other way too?

 

Are there baseball umpires who work softball who don't get the immediate out on the retreat in a softball game?  

 

 

It's quite possible I'm the last person on earth to ask about that.

[johnnyg08]

 

 

I see it periodically. Many umpires around here work both baseball and softball, and many of those fail to distinguish adequately between the rule codes.

 

You're right @maven.  I wonder if it works the other way too?

 

Are there baseball umpires who work softball who don't get the immediate out on the retreat in a softball game?  

 

 

It's quite possible I'm the last person on earth to ask about that.

 

 

Makes two of us.

[grozzly]

Hey @grozzly

Thanks for weighing in. From France. I don't know how good the baseball is in France but you at least only have to digest and remember a single rules code.

 

 

And trust me, that's enough !!!!