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From son's HS team's game last week:  It has been raining a lot here and neither team was at its best after a week when they couldn't get on the field.  This was a varsity contest, despite what the lack of situational awareness might suggest.  I think the ump's call here was correct--anyone disagree?  

1st and 3d, one out.  Runner steals second on defensive indifference (close game, fast guy on 3d).  C tosses ball back to P, who is not on the rubber.  Runner at 2d starts to jog back toward 1st.  (I learned later from my son that the runner thought there was a foul tip, although the batter didn't swing...)  1st base coach starts waving his arms and telling the kid to get back to 2d, but runner jogs the rest of the way to 1st.  After a beat or two, runner at 1st starts jogging toward 2d again.  (I guess he thought he could just resume his place on that bag?  No one had called time out and ball was not dead.)  P has the ball during all of this and moves toward the baseline to cut off the runner's second trip to 2d base, while constantly looking back at 3d to hold runner there.  A rundown between 1st and 2d ensues, the runner on 3d eventually scores and the other runner ends up back on 1st, where he stays.  Umpires allow the run scored and let the runner remain on 1st.  Defensive team's coach has an animated conversation with both umps, then gives up and play resumes.

Was this the correct call (by the umpire, not the base runner)? 

  

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Chico Escuela posted:
C tosses ball back to P, who is not on the rubber.

  

In OBR, that's the key.  Once F1 is on the rubber, the runner cannot return (by rule / interp he is declared out; game management might allow for some direction in this regard before making such a declaration).

I forget whether FED has a similar provision.

Nathan posted:

So is it illegal to run the bases in reverse?  What is the correct rule here?

From OBR 5.06:

Rule 5.06(a)/5.06 (c) Comment: If a runner legally acquires
title to a base, and the pitcher assumes his pitching position,
the runner may not return to a previously occupied base.

But, you might also need an interp to help -- this is from J/R (emphasis added):

he runs the bases in reverse order. If a runner runs the bases in reverse 7.01
order solely to confuse the defense or travesty the game, the penalty is the 7.08i
same as in thrown ball interference, i.e., the ball is dead and the runner is
out. A runner often returns to a base for a legitimate reason (caught fly
all, missed base, foul ball, ignorance) and such action should not be
interpreted as reverse base running. Once a pitcher is in-contact with the
rubber a runner, regardless of purpose, cannot return beyond his occupied
base. If he attempts to do so he should be declared out.

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