Need a softball ruling

[PlayerHader]

Bottom of the 7th, 2 outs, runners on first and second bases, game tied 13-13. Sharp 1-hopper hit to the hole that the shortstop dives for and snags. The runner on second base mistakenly thinks that there is no runner on first base and turns to return to second base. After the base coaches and dugout yell loud enough, he breaks for third as the SS makes the easy flip to the third-baseman. He tosses the ball over his head though, and it goes into the dugout. Ump rules the runner scores on the ball being thrown out of play. Guy in the stands contends that he should be out for going back towards second base.

 

Besides the fact that the baserunner should get kicked in the nuts, what's the correct ruling on the play?

[dadofandrew]

The ump made it. The runner is allowed to run, not run, stand still, whatever.

[PlayerHader]

Take steps backwards, as well? That was the basis of the argument. Once he made a move back toward second base, he was out.

[dadofandrew]

Sure. It's bad baserunning, but it's not illegal. Guys go backwards to avoid tags all the time.

[Patrick425]

I could possibly see the argument that he should only be allowed 3rd base (but that doesn't seem correct either). Unless he went back to 2nd and occupied the base at the same time the guy from 1st was, then I would have to say the ruling the umpire made was correct. Regardless of whether it's a force play situation, you can run back and forth as much as you want, as long as you stay in the base line and don't pass (or get passed) by another runner.

[TooLiveBrew]

Yeah, def. agree with doa & Patrick here. You summed it up best though, ftlow:

 

Besides the fact that the baserunner should get kicked in the nuts...

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif There's nothing done by the runner that should result in his being called out. Do I understand correctly that the SS airmailed the throw to 3B & didn't record the force-out? That borders on unbelievable.

 

 

Unless he went back to 2nd and occupied the base at the same time the guy from 1st was, then I would have to say the ruling the umpire made was correct.

 

Bingo

[Fatter than Joey]

Sure. It's bad baserunning, but it's not illegal. Guys go backwards to avoid tags all the time.

 

Al is correct. As long as he doesn't touch the runner or get passed up.

[RyDogg66]

Yeah pretty much everyone has it correct (except the knucklehead in the stands). The runner is only out if there were two runners standing on the same base at the same time. Simply running backwards towards 2nd means nothing, except of of course that the runner didnt know the situation.

[DHonks]

Unless you have some weird league where you must continue on if you initially commit to a bag (like in girls softball with the pitcher's circle), there is no basis where the guy should be called out.

[PlayerHader]

Alright, I definitely agree with you all.

 

The SS tried flipping the throw from the ground and it went wide and into the dugout, so my description wasn't really accurate at first. That makes no difference. He could have walked the ball to first if he knew what was going on.

[RightFieldCoder]

Yeah pretty much everyone has it correct (except the knucklehead in the stands). The runner is only out if there were two runners standing on the same base at the same time. Simply running backwards towards 2nd means nothing, except of of course that the runner didnt know the situation.

I believe the runner can go back and physically stand on 2nd base. He is not automatically out. He may be forced out at 3rd or the runner from first may be tagged out even though he is also physically on 2nd base. The base does not become a safe haven from being put out unless the preceding runner has abandoned it and has not returned. The runner from first could also become automatically out if he passes or touches the runner from second. So it's a bad idea to run back to 2nd since it makes it easy for the defense to record an out at either base, but a runner is free to do so. As long as the runner from first did not pass or touch the runner from second, the ump made the right call.