quote:
Originally posted by obrady:
Ball hit to the fence, the runner never stops per to coaches instructions. The throw from the outfield to the cut off was low, the throw from the cut off was almost in the stands.
I'm torn because I was taught that if a runner never slows, he gets credit for how far he goes. In this case the coach was sending the runner based on the low throw to the cut off. BUT, if the relay from the cut off had even been close, the runner would have easily been out.
I'm leaning toward a triple and an error. What do you think?
No one can help you on this one. Sorry, but you’re judgment is gonna be the determining factor.
The only help I can give you if it’s a HS game, is to look at 2006 NFHS rule 9-3-3, which is pretty darn weak.
But even after you read that, you should at least look at OBR 2006 10.05, and read the note, then go to 10.13 and read notes 1&3.
Note. NOTE: In applying the above rules, always give the batter the benefit of the doubt. A safe course to follow is to score a hit when exceptionally good fielding of a ball fails to result in a putout.
NOTE (1) Slow handling of the ball which does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error.
NOTE (3) Mental mistakes or misjudgments are not to be scored as errors unless specifically covered in the rules. That should give you an idea what the “spirit” of the rules are, and you can go from there.
Sounds to me that you’re pretty sure the runner should have been put out, and if that’s true, triple + E-“X”. Personally, I tend to be pretty darn lenient on relay throws, especially from the OF. Look at all the things that have to be exactly right to get that runner.
The OF’r has to run the ball down in time to be able to make the play. Then he has to make a pretty good throw to his cutoff man, and he has to make a pretty good throw in order to get the out at the plate, not to mention both the CO man and the C have to field the throws perfectly.
Remember what “ordinary” is for HS. Would the average HS OF’r and CO man be able to make all that happen in the vast majority of cases?
Let your heart be your guide. No matter how you mark it, the kid still gets at least a hit!
