Tag runner on half-off helmet - out?

[S. vanTootblan]

Just a weird hypothetical based on a play in an MLB game the other day: Close play at the plate on a Sac Fly, runner is sliding headfirst, catcher swipes the tag and gets the runner on the helmet just before he touches the plate. But it's a one-flap helmet, and is coming off his head as the tag is applied. Question: how "off" does the helmet have to be for it to be for the runner to be safe?

 

[noumpere]

1) If it's half off, then the tag counts as half an out -- so if the runner is tagged twice, he's out.

 

2) Completely off.  Benefit of the doubt to the defense.

[maven]

Runners are out when tagged on their uniform or equipment. Runners are responsible for wearing their equipment correctly. Unless the helmet is not in physical contact with the runner (in the air or on the ground), I've got an out.

[Rich Ives]

3 hours ago, noumpere said:

 

 

2) Completely off.  Benefit of the doubt to the defense.

It's off. Where is the doubt?

[noumpere]

32 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

It's off. Where is the doubt?

Between "completely on and worn as intended" and "clearly off and no longer part of the person" there's a grey area where the helmet goes from "loose" to "falling off" to "barely on"  to "barely off, but only visible through slo-mo replay" to ...

If you can't tell that it's "clearly off and no longer part of the person" consider it "on" and get the out.

[Aging_Arbiter]

day game or night game?

[Rich Ives]

45 minutes ago, noumpere said:

Between "completely on and worn as intended" and "clearly off and no longer part of the person" there's a grey area where the helmet goes from "loose" to "falling off" to "barely on"  to "barely off, but only visible through slo-mo replay" to ...

If you can't tell that it's "clearly off and no longer part of the person" consider it "on" and get the out.

"Completely off" was the situation presented and to which I responded.

[umpstu]

1 hour ago, Aging_Arbiter said:

day game or night game?

In Germany or Russia?

[beerguy55]

What if his head is in the helmet?

[noumpere]

55 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

"Completely off" was the situation presented and to which I responded.

Nope.  I meant that the rule is "completely off" (answering the OP where the helmet is "coming off") and that the benefit of the doubt when determining that goes to the defense.

[Guest Slick]

What if helmet is completely off but the tag pins the helmet to the runners body?

[maven]

 

[Velho]

Which half of the ball was he tagged with?

[SeeingEyeDog]

Was there an African or European swallow on the field at the time?

~Dawg

[Richvee]

20 hours ago, maven said:

 

Didn’t even notice until I got to this post. 😂

[Mussgrass]

So, how long is the statute of limitations on an old thread, versus stating a new one?