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Ok, let me set up a crazy senario I had in a HS game:

Runners on the corners, 1 out, pitcher on rubber prior to coming set: when I (field ump) look over, I notice the kid on 1st walking way off the bag towards the outfield grass (I mean he literally could have touched the back infield lip). Bench sreams to step off the rubber--> pitcher does so and tosses to the second baseman as the runner is casually walking directly towards second base (from the back lip). I know he is trying to get in the rundown to score the man from third and has now retreated back towards first but is still 10-15 feet back of the baseline (and making no attempt to get back within baseline). I'm giving the kid the benefit of the doubt at this point but screaming at him repeatedly to get back in the baseline. (Keep in mind that all players are playing at quarter speed and this is slow evolving both on the defensive as well as offensive sides). The kid maintains his 15 foot distance back of the baseline as he advances toward 1st despite my plea so I call him out before the 2B tags him and R3 doesn't even score. Coach, player, and fans all scream bloody murder and claim his new "imaginary baseline" is from the player directly to 2B which is a bogus belief in the first place.

My true question is: Technically, when was my first opportunity to call him out? Could I have called him out the second the pitcher stepped off the rubber and threw to second? If not, what if the pitcher would have actually tried the pick to 1st while the kid was on the back lip of the infield? Is this an immediate out call?
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You made a great call amaump. The runner is out whenever you say he's out. Players, coaches and parents need to realize that.

The rule book has nothing to do with it.

Your call is final. Doesn't matter what the rule book says. Ump calls are "part of the game" aren't they?

Any team that tries this and has it ruled against them, deserves what they get. And, it's great to see a team and it's parents get "up in arms" over this.
Statman: No. The "baseline" is a straight line from the runner to any base he's going to (forward or backwards) **at the time a play is being made on him** - that is, an attempt is being made to tag him out. As long as there's no attempt being made to tag him, he can go anywhere he wants (on the field). Once an attempt is made to tag him, a "baseline" is established between his current location and the base he is headed to. He must remain within 3 feet of that "baseline" between his current location and the base he's headed for (ahead or behind.)

This is easier to understand if you think about the path a runner takes on an extra base hit. He's nowhere near a straight line between the bases (if he's doing it right) and that's OK, because nobody's trying to tag him.
Right and wrong have little to do with protest conclusions either.

BTW, the last time a significant issue was won in protest must have been before my life time.

The standard answer........too late to change it now.

So, how does the rule book apply in protests???

Never forget, the umps are "part of the game" no matter how bad they are. And, the availablity of instant replay in mlb and it's lack of use proves this.

The goal has never been to "get it right". The goal is always "sell it".
Last edited by ozzir

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