ESO Baseball Rules Weekly Mini Clinic With Rick Roder Friday, June 23, 2006

Welcome! Questions submitted by umpires Posted every Friday, “Online Training” Your gut reaction: make a call Rules mini clinic session Ruling, sources, mechanics, helpful hints Monthly test posted last day of month

June 23, 2006: Stan writes, “Does a runner have to advance when the ball has become dead and he is awarded an advance base? Is that optional or required? Can the umpire make runners advance?”

The play: Do you make him move up? It’s the last game of the season and Smith needs one stolen base to break the all time record in a career. It’s the bottom of the 8th, Smith’s team is winning 9-1, and he gets a base hit. On the first pitch to the next batter, Smith is not stealing and the pitch ricochets off the front of the plate and goes out of play over the break in the screen. Smith is awarded second base. Everyone’s hearts drop because they know it will be way tougher to steal third than second. However, Smith and his manager ask the umpires if he can stay at first. After all, they say, the rule does say he “may” advance, not that he “must” advance. Do you make him move up?

Your gut instinct: Smith must advance; if he refuses he is warned that he will be ejected if he does not. He does not have to accept the one base award. He only has to advance if the defensive team wants him at second base versus first base.

Correct Answer (a) Smith must advance; if he refuses he is warned that he will be ejected if he does not. (Despite the fact that the rule does say the runner “may” advance): OBR 7.05(h): “Each runner …may…advance one base if a ball pitched to the batter…goes into a stand or bench…”

What’s the reasoning? Those rule enforcements that are “optional” are specifically listed as such in the rules: Catcher’s interference; [OBR 6.08(c)]. Altered baseball is pitched; [OBR 8.02(a), Penalty (b)]. The “option” means: Manager/coach can take enforcement of the rule OR the results of the play. Not EVERYTHING can be optional (where does it end?)

Further reasoning: It’s a TEAM game, not a game of individuals. “The offensive team’s objective is to have its batter become a runner and its runners advance.” --[OBR 5.04] Running bases is reverse order is a “travesty” of the game. --[OBR 7.01 & 7.08(i)]

A related play: Smith gets on base. On the first pitch, he is not attempting to steal. The pitch is wild, but stays in play, and Smith goes to second. The pitcher gets on rubber with the ball and during the next pitch Smith “steals first;” he runs back to first safely.

Ruling: Call time and declare Smith out for trying to make a travesty of the game. Note: if the runner had a legitimate reason to return (failed to tag up or touch a base, etc.), or was decoyed into returning, the rule does not apply.

Some pointers. Don’t let a coach, manager, or popular opinion talk you into something, even if it sounds like a good argument at the time. Rely on the rules, not on the coach’s argument and “what everyone wants.” Preventative umpiring: if you have an inkling that a runner is thinking about making a travesty of the game, warn him not to do it.

Thank you for participating! Next mini clinic will be posted along with our monthly quiz on Friday June 30. Please email rule questions to Rick Roder: rroder@eofficials.com