Placing Runners after an Overthrow

[nicshow]

I was behind the plate in a varsity baseball game Saturday. Both teams were playing pretty well with lots of action. I was keeping busy behind the plate when a routine ground ball was hit on the infield with runners on base. The throw to first went high and right into a dugout for a dead ball. But then it came time to place runners and my partner and I weren't sure where runners were at the time of the throw.

 

Does one  umpire have primary responsibility for immediately looking to see where runners are at the time of the throw? What mechanic am I missing to be ready for this kind of situation?

 

Nic

[GreyhoundAggie]

This isn't a time of throw award. It is time of pitch if it is the first play in the infield. 2 bases from TOP.

[johnnyg08]

I was behind the plate in a varsity baseball game Saturday. Both teams were playing pretty well with lots of action. I was keeping busy behind the plate when a routine ground ball was hit on the infield with runners on base. The throw to first went high and right into a dugout for a dead ball. But then it came time to place runners and my partner and I weren't sure where runners were at the time of the throw.

 

Does one  umpire have primary responsibility for immediately looking to see where runners are at the time of the throw? What mechanic am I missing to be ready for this kind of situation?

 

Nic

Great question!

Just remember this, watch the ball, glance at runners. @GreyhoundAggie is correct.

[GreyhoundAggie]

What @johnnyg08 said is what I should have added. You're going to be focused on the ball usually and you just have to peek at the runners when you can, sometimes judgments will have to be made based on the speed of runners, etc. It can be tough to catch everything in 2 man.

[maven]

Why is it tough? For TOP awards, we don't care where the runners are, as we know where they were.

 

For TOT awards, BU has touches at 1B and 2B, so he or she will know where the runners were at TOT. Everyone else is getting HP.

[noumpere]

Why is it tough? For TOP awards, we don't care where the runners are, as we know where they were.

 

For TOT awards, BU has touches at 1B and 2B, so he or she will know where the runners were at TOT. Everyone else is getting HP.

It can be tough for newer umpires because 97% of throws do NOT go out of play, so the umpire doesn't get in the habit of looking.  And, then, there's a gap between where the runners were and when the ball goes OOP, so the umpire has to go back and remember / recreate the action.

[Jimurray]

Why is it tough? For TOP awards, we don't care where the runners are, as we know where they were.

 

For TOT awards, BU has touches at 1B and 2B, so he or she will know where the runners were at TOT. Everyone else is getting HP.

It can be tough for newer umpires because 97% of throws do NOT go out of play, so the umpire doesn't get in the habit of looking.  And, then, there's a gap between where the runners were and when the ball goes OOP, so the umpire has to go back and remember / recreate the action.

I think you know what you mean but for newer umpires we should state that when the ball goes OOP means when the fielder released the throw for those awards that are determined by TOT.

It would be bad baseball but with R1 stealing on the pitch, ground ball deep in the hole with a bobble, frustrated F6 releasing a throw to 1B as the BR touches, you might have a TOT award. I think somewhere in the MLBUM it recommends umps to get together in situations like that to determine awards.

[woodiemiller]

Why is it tough? For TOP awards, we don't care where the runners are, as we know where they were.

 

For TOT awards, BU has touches at 1B and 2B, so he or she will know where the runners were at TOT. Everyone else is getting HP.

[NovaScotiaBlue]

 

Why is it tough? For TOP awards, we don't care where the runners are, as we know where they were.

 

For TOT awards, BU has touches at 1B and 2B, so he or she will know where the runners were at TOT. Everyone else is getting HP.

 

It's tough because some newer umpires lack the training or knowledge that comes with experience. The OP asks a question that shows he needs to learn base award rules.

As for who calls em. up here in Canada, with runners on base, HP has the awarding of bases when you have runners on and a 2 base award based on TOT since they have the whole field in front of them.

[johnnyg08]

From PBUC: