Returning to a base

Nope. The requirement is that the runner MUST "retouch" the base.

So, if he does not retouch the base, should I tell him he has to retouch the base? Would that be considered coaching? If I wait for a reasonable amount of time and he still has not retouched, do I then put the ball in play, and if so, can the pitcher then toe the rubber, step off, call time and make a dead ball appeal that the runner never retouched the base following the foul ball?

I think you'll find that most experienced umpires, in the OP deadball sich, consider the runner to have returned and "touched" the base if he's standing near it--as long as no advantage is gained by that runner not actually touching the bag.
He still has to tag on a fly out, though.

No, to the deadball appeal by the pitcher..

quote:

Originally posted by archangel:
I think you'll find that most experienced umpires, in the OP deadball sich, consider the runner to have returned and "touched" the base if he's standing near it--as long as no advantage is gained by that runner not actually touching the bag.
He still has to tag on a fly out, though.

No, to the deadball appeal by the pitcher..

I agree. Taking their normal short lead is within the spirit of the rule. The runners are not gaining any advantage by being just off the bag.

Jaksa/Roder mentions returning to "the vicinity of the base" will fulfill the requirement...

Thanks, guys. I know this seems like a pretty stupid question, but it actually happened to me in a 14U summer game last weekend. I refused to call the runner out on appeal and the coach went a little nuts about it.

Reading a rule book is good but sounds like this guy reads more than he probably practices. Know the rules but don't nitpick little things like this.

Spoken from a coaches perspective about another coach.