Batter reaches then gives himself up?

[Guest Bill]

Varsity baseball game- NFHS and MIAA (Massachusetts HS) rules.

Bases loaded, one out. Ground ball to shortstop who throws home for the force. The batter reaches first base safely but thinks it’s the third out so he leaves the base. He *almost* enters the first base dugout but never crosses the out of bounds line. When the dugout makes him aware there are two outs, he returns to first base and all other runners return to their bases before the defense can tag anyone out. Can the batter or any of the runners be called out for either vacating their respective bases or being out of the baseline? Umps ruled all runners safe and resumed the game with two outs.

 

Thanks

 

 

[Recontra]

The Batter Runner is out for abandonment. Once he attains 1st base safely, he's then a regular runner and is out if the umpire judges that he abandoned his effort to run the bases. Before reaching 1st base (say on a dropped 3rd strike), the Batter Runner has until he's entered the dugout or dead ball territory to correct his mistake and run to 1st.

8-4-2-P:  A runner is out when:  . . . after at least touching first base, leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base; or NOTE: Any runner, after reaching first base, who leaves the baseline heading for the dugout or his defensive position believing that there is no further play, shall be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases.

Contrast this rule regarding "base runners" with the batter runner before reaching 1st base.

8-4-1-i:  A batter runner is out when:  . . . on a dropped third strike, he gives up by entering the bench or dugout area, or with two outs he does not attempt to reach first base before all infielders leave the diamond at the end of the half-inning;

[The Man in Blue]

... or he is not out. The rule states it is the umpire’s judgment when he has abandoned.

If he got back before the defense made a play on him (a defense which had ample opportunity it sounds like) and before an umpire ruled him out, I’d say it isn’t abandonment.  
 

Stupidity is not abandonment.

[noumpere]

Often, "abandonment" is viewed as a "rule of last resort" -- a way to get the runner out when the defense would have to chase the runner well away from the normal field of pay, or to declare an out when there's no other way.

In some places (I've heard), it's enforced more strictly -- when the runner progresses a reasonable distance toward the dugout, he's declared out.

 

Frankly, I prefer the first interpretation.

[Velho]

My $0.02 (and worth every cent 😁): play on.

I’m just speculating here...

The Def coach and parents should let the teams play the game out and not worry so much about finding rules to get them a technical win.

Add on: since their d interested in the objective application of the rules in this case, I’m sure they’ll listen when they lose on obstruction, interference, etc. in the future [/rant]

[Senor Azul]

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 8.4.2 Situation C (a) B1 reaches first base safely but thinks he is out and abandons his effort to return to first base and heads for the team bench, or (b) R2, running to third base, thinks he is out because of a possible force play at third base and leaves the field for the team bench when the coach tells him to return. RULING:  The umpire will rule an out in both (a) and (b), because in each play the runner abandoned his effort to reach the entitled base. Upon reaching base a runner abandons his effort when he leaves the baseline. (8-4-2p)

2019 NFHS rule 8 SECTION 4 RUNNER IS OUT

ART. 2 . . . Any runner is out when he:

p. after at least touching first base, leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base; or

NOTE: Any runner, after reaching first base, who leaves the baseline heading for the dugout or his defensive position believing that there is no further play, shall be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases.

[Guest Bill]

Thanks for the quick feedback, everyone!  FYI, I’m on the side of the offensive team so I wasn’t looking for loopholes or anything! In fact, I was expecting our batter to be called out. Been watching baseball for a long time and have rarely seen a play like this.

[beerguy55]

14 hours ago, Velho said:

My $0.02 (and worth every cent 😁): play on.

I’m just speculating here...

The Def coach and parents should let the teams play the game out and not worry so much about finding rules to get them a technical win.

Add on: since their d interested in the objective application of the rules in this case, I’m sure they’ll listen when they lose on obstruction, interference, etc. in the future [/rant]

I'll go one further...since the batter was, by all accounts, at least 20 feet off first base, and the other two runners had also started leaving their bases, maybe the defense should work on the fundamentals of the game and tag the F*#King runners when they leave the bases.