Drop 3rd strike.....

[urout17]

Fed rules. Nobody one, nobody out. Batter strikes out swinging and ball gets away from the catcher. BR easily beats the throw to first. After running thru the bag, BR returns to first but does not immediately re-touch the bag and is actually standing next to the bag talking to the first base coach. First baseman now with the ball tags the runner and the BU calls him out. I didn't see this happen nor was it a game I was working, I'm hearing this second hand. My question is, what is the "time limit" that a BR has to return back to the bag? Thanks.

[maven]

The BR has the right to overrun 1B on this play.

 

He must "immediately" return to 1B, which it seems he did...almost.

 

If he's standing within inches of 1B when tagged, I'd probably kill it and tell him to get on the base.

 

BU was a bit over zealous IMHO.

[blue23ll]

ART. 7 . . . A batter-runner who reaches first base safely and then overruns or overslides may immediately return without liability of being put out provided he does not attempt or feint an advance to second. A player who is awarded first base on a base on balls does not have this right.

 

NFHS (2014-11-06). 2015 NFHS Baseball Rules Book (Kindle Locations 1096-1098). NFHS. Kindle Edition. 

 

Of course, 'immediately' is an umpire judgement call. 

[urout17]

Thank you both for taking the time to answer.

[Rich Ives]

Fed rules. Nobody one, nobody out. Batter strikes out swinging and ball gets away from the catcher. BR easily beats the throw to first. After running thru the bag, BR returns to first but does not immediately re-touch the bag and is actually standing next to the bag talking to the first base coach. First baseman now with the ball tags the runner and the BU calls him out. I didn't see this happen nor was it a game I was working, I'm hearing this second hand. My question is, what is the "time limit" that a BR has to return back to the bag? Thanks.

 

Stupid base runner. Stupid coach.

[johnnyg08]

I don't think it's overzealous at all. I wouldn't be overly thrilled about having to call an out there, but it is supported by rule.

[Thunderheads]

The BR has the right to overrun 1B on this play.

 

He must "immediately" return to 1B, which it seems he did...almost.

 

If he's standing within inches of 1B when tagged, I'd probably kill it and tell him to get on the base.

 

BU was a bit over zealous IMHO.

THIS!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[maven]

I don't think it's overzealous at all. I wouldn't be overly thrilled about having to call an out there, but it is supported by rule.

 

Can you justify an out call by rule? Yes.

 

Will it send your game directly and irretrievably down the crapper, ruining the remainder of your day? Yes.

 

This is a game management issue, not a rules issue. There are plays where you have no choice but to go against the "expected call" and get it right, come what may for the rest of the game. IMO, this ain't one of those.

[ajrivera1986]

Not to hijack this thread but way too coincidental.......

 

2 games ago I was doing a 'Major' game and had a kid hit a sliding double. Play was not even really that close so as the F8 is throwing back to F6 standing by second the BR is dusting off his pants literally on the side of the bag not even an inch off. 

 

F6 happens to be the stud of the league and pushes him off a little and BR comes off the bag... We run just a BU at our league so some were giving me little chirps about the BR being off the bag but I just turned and said "Cant be bullied off the bag" and gave everyone a smile. Luckily, I played it off with my body language like it was no big deal because I was not ready to call that kid out for that little infraction.

[johnnyg08]

If he's standing within inches of 1B when tagged, I'd probably kill it and tell him to get on the base.

I could see myself doing something like this.

Not to hijack this thread but way too coincidental.......

 

2 games ago I was doing a 'Major' game and had a kid hit a sliding double. Play was not even really that close so as the F8 is throwing back to F6 standing by second the BR is dusting off his pants literally on the side of the bag not even an inch off. 

 

F6 happens to be the stud of the league and pushes him off a little and BR comes off the bag... We run just a BU at our league so some were giving me little chirps about the BR being off the bag but I just turned and said "Cant be bullied off the bag" and gave everyone a smile. Luckily, I played it off with my body language like it was no big deal because I was not ready to call that kid out for that little infraction.

The tricky part is that this is how to properly run the hidden ball trick. So we also can't take a play away from the defense.

[kstrunk]

 

If he's standing within inches of 1B when tagged, I'd probably kill it and tell him to get on the base.

I could see myself doing something like this.

Not to hijack this thread but way too coincidental.......

 

2 games ago I was doing a 'Major' game and had a kid hit a sliding double. Play was not even really that close so as the F8 is throwing back to F6 standing by second the BR is dusting off his pants literally on the side of the bag not even an inch off. 

 

F6 happens to be the stud of the league and pushes him off a little and BR comes off the bag... We run just a BU at our league so some were giving me little chirps about the BR being off the bag but I just turned and said "Cant be bullied off the bag" and gave everyone a smile. Luckily, I played it off with my body language like it was no big deal because I was not ready to call that kid out for that little infraction.

The tricky part is that this is how to properly run the hidden ball trick. So we also can't take a play away from the defense.

 

Had one yesterday! Guy hit a sliding triple, F5 caught the throw on a hop behind the bag and held the ball. BR stands up, takes his foot of the bag and turned to look at spectators, F5 taps him on the chest. I bang him out, 3B coach looks confused and says 'why?!!!!'. I explained 'he took his foot off the bag and was tagged out.' He asked where he was tagged, 'on the chest', off I go, to prepare for the next half.