The league is USSSA slowpitch and I have a couple questions to a few odd plays that happened. They were probably the right calls, but I'd like to hear what other umpires would say.
1. Runner is on 1st. Batter hits ground ball down 1st base line, runner on first takes off, but obviously can't see if the fielder got it, so runs full speed down base line. Makes it about 2/3 down, 1st baseman throws to 2nd. Runner gives self up by running to the right of the baseline just before the SS on 2nd base catches it. Runner is about 5 to 7 feet to the right of the baseline, but the SS momentum carries him to the line of the runner...(seemed like he took extra steps to get that far, but probably momentum). He doesnt make the throw and umpire calls a double play due to inteference. Umpire said the runner got in the way and its his fault. I suspect this is mostly a judgement call, so the umpire is right on judgement calls, but what is the general consensus? If the runner already gave himself up, and the fielder goes into that direction, is that pretty much automatic interference?
2. Runner on 1st. Batter flies out, and runner goes back to first, but outfielder throws a wild throw to the infield, so the runner takes off to 2nd. The ball is now near the dugout (but not in) between 1st and 2nd, while team scrambles for the ball, but the runner stops at 2nd because the ball mysteriously shows up under the pitcher. It turns out, a 2nd ball somehow wound its way to the pitcher. They then grab the first ball and everyone is confused. A claim was that the catcher grabbed a 2nd ball from the umpire's stash in the backstop and threw it in. Umpire says no advancement but no explanation what happened. He calls the play dead, then picks up the 2nd ball.
We asked for an explanation of what happened, and the umpire stated there is no rule, and its a judgement call. He thought the runner couldnt make it to 3rd, based on the "real" ball, but of course the runner didn't try to even go because the 2nd ball was already in the pitcher's hand. So the question here is, I suspect there's no rule for this, and the umpire will be correct in his judgement call. And the second question is, the other team seemed to think that it was screwed up for this to happen, and offered the runner on 2nd to take 3rd. The runner didn't take it, as he was still confused. Could he have advanced to 3rd if the other team gave it? The umpires had nothing to say.
Thanks in advance for analyzing these situations!
1. Runner is on 1st. Batter hits ground ball down 1st base line, runner on first takes off, but obviously can't see if the fielder got it, so runs full speed down base line. Makes it about 2/3 down, 1st baseman throws to 2nd. Runner gives self up by running to the right of the baseline just before the SS on 2nd base catches it. Runner is about 5 to 7 feet to the right of the baseline, but the SS momentum carries him to the line of the runner...(seemed like he took extra steps to get that far, but probably momentum). He doesnt make the throw and umpire calls a double play due to inteference. Umpire said the runner got in the way and its his fault. I suspect this is mostly a judgement call, so the umpire is right on judgement calls, but what is the general consensus? If the runner already gave himself up, and the fielder goes into that direction, is that pretty much automatic interference?
2. Runner on 1st. Batter flies out, and runner goes back to first, but outfielder throws a wild throw to the infield, so the runner takes off to 2nd. The ball is now near the dugout (but not in) between 1st and 2nd, while team scrambles for the ball, but the runner stops at 2nd because the ball mysteriously shows up under the pitcher. It turns out, a 2nd ball somehow wound its way to the pitcher. They then grab the first ball and everyone is confused. A claim was that the catcher grabbed a 2nd ball from the umpire's stash in the backstop and threw it in. Umpire says no advancement but no explanation what happened. He calls the play dead, then picks up the 2nd ball.
We asked for an explanation of what happened, and the umpire stated there is no rule, and its a judgement call. He thought the runner couldnt make it to 3rd, based on the "real" ball, but of course the runner didn't try to even go because the 2nd ball was already in the pitcher's hand. So the question here is, I suspect there's no rule for this, and the umpire will be correct in his judgement call. And the second question is, the other team seemed to think that it was screwed up for this to happen, and offered the runner on 2nd to take 3rd. The runner didn't take it, as he was still confused. Could he have advanced to 3rd if the other team gave it? The umpires had nothing to say.
Thanks in advance for analyzing these situations!