What say all of you on this play at the plate?
Attachments
Videos (1)
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
The catcher is in the baseline without the ball.
I agree. Catcher in base path and blocking plate without ball. The runner has no opportunity to reach the plate. Not sure what else the runner could do there. If he slides he will never reach the plate. He shouldn't have to give himself up and just slide if the catcher doesn't even have the ball.
Watching live it looked like the runner went into the catcher on purpose. Watching the replay you can see the catcher move into the line attempting to field the throw. The ump called an out and ejected the player stating the runner made no attempt to avoid contact. I’d love to see what other umps think of the call
Watch the runner's movement - at the beginning of the sequence you can see his feet in the grass on the right side of the baseline... at some point before the collision he moved a couple of steps left and initiated contact with the catcher in the process of making a catch (yes in the baseline without the ball so in HS could/should be OBS). For reference the dirt width is usually 3' (think about it) and note where the contact was made. The collision was forceful and involved what appears to be a push, but is more like a brace for collision - see 8.4.2 for reasons a runner is out (b) "...causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play..." and then read (e) - "initiates malicious contact; (1) Malicious contact always supersedes obstruction..."
To say he couldn't reach the plate on a slide running at that speed from that distance - I disagree. If he slides and doesn't make the plate because the C is there without the ball it is 100% OBS, score the run. The reality is a fielder needs to only give/allow access to some part of the base/plate. Happens at 1B on pickoffs and 2B/3B on steals... Naturally the plate is where it's most important and controversial.
In real time, how many of you parents would be able to make a call in under 1 second on that play? Watching the replay a few dozen times certainly helps, right? Recall that the baseline runs thru the back of the plate and it's very possible that runner could have slid to the right side if he maintained his direction and still would have been able to reach out an touch the plate with his hand - seen that dozens of times (or of course slid head first).
Ump made the correct call imo. Runner took 4 strides and moved into F2 and there was the bottom half of the plate available to slide in. I am parent and not an ump, but that is their trade and should be held to the standard of making a 1 sec collision call just like their are trained to determine within millimetres and microseconds a pitched is a strike or a runner beat out a play. I am glad no got hurt
In the heat of the moment, runner is out.
After review, call on the field stands.
Doubtful malice was intended on either said. I’d be pissed in the moment if I was either parent and the call went against my son. But those are the breaks.
I have an unrelated question. Runners on first and second. Batter hits a line drive that gets through. Both guys on base score but the opposing team claims that the first runner didn’t touch third base. If it were true, would both runners be out or just the first runner?
@PTWood posted:I have an unrelated question. Runners on first and second. Batter hits a line drive that gets through. Both guys on base score but the opposing team claims that the first runner didn’t touch third base. If it were true, would both runners be out or just the first runner?
Throw the ball over to 3rd, tag the base, and the umpire will let you know.
(first runner is out, but only if appealed as described above. second run counts)
I'd say correct call....runner definitely had room to get to the back of the plate. He scores easily if he slides to that side and just touches with his hand.
@Buckeye 2015 posted:I'd say correct call....runner definitely had room to get to the back of the plate. He scores easily if he slides to that side and just touches with his hand.
100% agree.... this happened because of a horrible/awkward looking late slide that in real-time forces the ump to eject the player in today's game.
Its a tough call, but i believe the intent of the rule now is to prevent injury causing collisions that can be avoided. The runner looks like he lowered his shoulder , indicating that he knew he was going to collide. I personally would call the runner out, but that's just me.
We had ,almost the exact same thing happen to our catcher in one of our 14U games and the runner was called safe. Catcher, had a nose bleed, and our Coach got thrown out after protesting. His departing words were" Their kid barrels in and takes out our kid , and I'm the one getting thrown out of the game!!!!!???!!!