Other stepping off 3rd

[SevenBizzos]

They allow it in local leagues around here. You just ask/tell the ump what you are doing.

I think it makes things a little bit safer for the runners. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to people. Geez.

 

[pompetti]

Old School

What's the ruling on the runners carrying something like this:

If they are so afraid of getting hit by their own teammate, would they be able to carry around protective equipment?

 

[spos21ram]

They allow it in local leagues around here. You just ask/tell the ump what you are doing.

I think it makes things a little bit safer for the runners. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to people. Geez.

I still don't understand how that's safer. You are roughly the same distance away from the batter.

 

[Ryan Gash]

id rather be on the bag. A foul ball is pulled harder. I wouldn't care though if someone wanted to do it because it would take them more time to tag up to the base....

 

[eddieq]

What's the ruling on the runners carrying something like this:

If they are so afraid of getting hit by their own teammate, would they be able to carry around protective equipment?

Just don't interfere with the defense. Probably easier to don full catcher's gear.

 

[Hammerin' Hank]

the only reason to stand in foul terr. is if you are hit, its a dead ball and not an out. If you are hit in fair territory (and not on a base) you are out! You are no less likely to get hit standing 3 feet to the left of 3rd base.

 

[jsizelove32]

They allow it in local leagues around here. You just ask/tell the ump what you are doing.

I think it makes things a little bit safer for the runners. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to people. Geez.

So is this also allowed at 1B as well with a lefty batting? Just seems silly, You need to be on the base when the ball is pitched according to the rules. Softball isn't normally played with lead offs and steals ( some modified leagues allow stealing after the ball crosses the plate) like baseball, so standing in foul territory without making contact with the bag seems odd and conflicting with the rules.

 

[spos21ram]

the only reason to stand in foul terr. is if you are hit, its a dead ball and not an out. If you are hit in fair territory (and not on a base) you are out! You are no less likely to get hit standing 3 feet to the left of 3rd base.

If that's the only reason people doit then even the lowest of rec leagues wouldn't allow it. Supposedly it's for safety.

 

[stang7222]

it's done all of the time in my Mens NSA competitive league. Like I said before, sometimes in the OF i'll look at the bases to asses the situation and I have to ask the IFs if that's a base runner or coach. Its annoying. Several times a year I don't realize there is a runner there. It hurts the team wen the guy tags and scores on a shallow fly ball with no throw.

If I were an ump, this would not fly unless it was co/ed rec with a guy up and a girl on 3rd.

 

[irishmafia]

it's done all of the time in my Mens NSA competitive league. Like I said before, sometimes in the OF i'll look at the bases to asses the situation and I have to ask the IFs if that's a base runner or coach. Its annoying. Several times a year I don't realize there is a runner there. It hurts the team wen the guy tags and scores on a shallow fly ball with no throw.

If I were an ump, this would not fly unless it was co/ed rec with a guy up and a girl on 3rd.

Dumb statement. It isn't allowed, PERIOD. DGAF who is on base or batting. Don't like the situation, might want to consider whiffle ball.

 

[stang7222]

Dumb statement. It isn't allowed, PERIOD. DGAF who is on base or batting. Don't like the situation, might want to consider whiffle ball.

have you ever played co-ed rec ball? Some of the girls don't even belong on the bases. At the lowest level of ball like that, I think anything that would make them feel safer would be ok with me. When i coached/played 3rd for a co-rec team, my goal was to make it through the games without anybody getting hurt.

 

[TheLacinStation]

have you ever played co-ed rec ball? Some of the girls don't even belong on the bases. At the lowest level of ball like that, I think anything that would make them feel safer would be ok with me. When i coached/played 3rd for a co-rec team, my goal was to make it through the games without anybody getting hurt.

I would argue that feeling safer is actually a bad thing, it allows the runner to let his/her guard down. As many others have already stated, the odds of getting hit are just as high a few feet foul as they are when you are on the base. If the runner is afraid of getting hit, at least he is paying maximum attention to the game.

 

[irishmafia]

have you ever played co-ed rec ball? Some of the girls don't even belong on the bases. At the lowest level of ball like that, I think anything that would make them feel safer would be ok with me. When i coached/played 3rd for a co-rec team, my goal was to make it through the games without anybody getting hurt.

Yes, I have and I still don't give a ****. If you are afraid of possible circumstances of a game, you either play by the rules or find another game. And again, IT IS THE RUNNER'S TEAMMATE HITTING THE BALL!!! Unlike the socialist world some people live in, it is the few who need to adjust, not the many.

This is just as stupid as people hanging in the lefthand lane at 20 mph under the posted speed limit because sometime in the next 5 miles, they will be turning left. Well, guess what, you move into a certain environment, you act in accordance to the standards of that environment or get the **** out of the way. Do not expect the environment adjust to you.

 

[spos21ram]

I still can't believe this happens. And my question is how does it come about to be okay'd? Does the umpire just let it go and doesn't care about the rules? or does an ignorant LD or TD actually approve of this?

Hows this for a scenario....player is 4 feet off the base in foul ground and gets drilled in the head with a foul ball. Guess who gets sued. The league, the umpire, the LD, the town. Now as an umpire or LD you're screwd. If they get hit while on the bag, they have no course of action to sue. They have the right to sue, but they won't get far.

Once you start ignoring the rules of your association that association's insurance pretty much becomes void.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

have you ever played co-ed rec ball? Some of the girls don't even belong on the bases. At the lowest level of ball like that, I think anything that would make them feel safer would be ok with me. When i coached/played 3rd for a co-rec team, my goal was to make it through the games without anybody getting hurt.

Then get the guys on the team to stop hitting at them? Don't bat them in front of hard hitters with no control?

If the girls are that bad, they're probably not getting on base much anyway.

 

[MichelleG]

have you ever played co-ed rec ball? Some of the girls don't even belong on the bases. At the lowest level of ball like that, I think anything that would make them feel safer would be ok with me. When i coached/played 3rd for a co-rec team, my goal was to make it through the games without anybody getting hurt.

Oh please....I've seen men in rec ball that don't belong on the bases, This is still a stupid thing to do. I've played co-ed since I was a teenager and I've never felt "unsafe" standing on the base. And frankly, the base you're most likely to get hit at is 2nd, at least in my experience. You know, from all those superstar men with no bat control that shoot box 9 out of 10 times.

 

[EdFred]

I never get to third base so I don't have this issue.

 

[CTBOH]

I cannot believe that leagues let this happen....AND i really can't believe that a grown ass man would ask to move to a "safer" spot so he doesn't get hit upside his vagina or other girly parts.....

 

[stang7222]

many girls (and guys) are clueless. I have seen a girl get hit by a ball at 3rd because she didn't want to take her foot off the base. I have seen girls get pegged when the D was turning 2 because she didn't think to turn out of the base line for the throw. Men's league, stay the hell on the base! Lowest form of co-ed, let's just get home in one piece. In a league where you have to bat guy-girl-guy-girl, how exactly do you separate the bad girls from the good guys in the order? If the 9 hitter is a girl she could easily be on 3rd when your male 4 hitter comes to bat.

I hate the step off the bag nonsense, but I can see it's place in the lowest level of ball.

 

[late]

I get why people do it but...you're no safer a few feet foul than you are on the base.

 

[KDEflyers]

Playing coed a couple of weeks ago and one of our guys blew up our teammate standing on third, a chick, twice on consecutive pitches for foul balls. He will be given **** forever for it.

 

[rhound50]

I'm kind of surprised how many people are so butthurt about this. My local league allows it, I don't do it and I've never seen anyone do it in a sanctioned tournament. Really who cares, its a disadvantage to the base runner and has no other impact on the play.

Call it a ***** rule if you like but it is safer. Even if the runner moves just 5 feet off the base they are marginally farther from the hitter. Most of the times I've seen this happen the runner also takes a couple steps towards the outfield. For those who say its only 5 feet farther it doesn't matter, then let me ask why a bunch of associations have considered pushing bases back 5 feet for safety. Last there are less hard hit balls hit 5 feet into foul territory then there are on the 3rd base line just based on where players are trying to hit the ball.

Seriously stop the whining, as a fielder it has almost no impact on the game and it makes the game marginally safer.

Hows this for a scenario....player is 4 feet off the base in foul ground and gets drilled in the head with a foul ball. Guess who gets sued. The league, the umpire, the LD, the town. Now as an umpire or LD you're screwd. If they get hit while on the bag, they have no course of action to sue. They have the right to sue, but they won't get far.

Once you start ignoring the rules of your association that association's insurance pretty much becomes void.

This makes no sense, the runner was given the option to move into foul territory and did it on their own free will. The odds of the league getting sued here are just as likely as they would for getting sued for not requiring helmets or some other stupid unreasonable reason that an injured person would sue.

 

[MichelleG]

many girls (and guys) are clueless. I have seen a girl get hit by a ball at 3rd because she didn't want to take her foot off the base. I have seen girls get pegged when the D was turning 2 because she didn't think to turn out of the base line for the throw. Men's league, stay the hell on the base! Lowest form of co-ed, let's just get home in one piece. In a league where you have to bat guy-girl-guy-girl, how exactly do you separate the bad girls from the good guys in the order? If the 9 hitter is a girl she could easily be on 3rd when your male 4 hitter comes to bat.

I hate the step off the bag nonsense, but I can see it's place in the lowest level of ball.

Seriously, where do your leagues get their women? Even our worst gals know how to run bases, pay attention to the game, and get the hell out of the way when necessary. Stop trolling for players in the Wal Mart parking lot.

 

[spos21ram]

I'm kind of surprised how many people are so butthurt about this. My local league allows it, I don't do it and I've never seen anyone do it in a sanctioned tournament. Really who cares, its a disadvantage to the base runner and has no other impact on the play.

Call it a ***** rule if you like but it is safer. Even if the runner moves just 5 feet off the base they are marginally farther from the hitter. Most of the times I've seen this happen the runner also takes a couple steps towards the outfield. For those who say its only 5 feet farther it doesn't matter, then let me ask why a bunch of associations have considered pushing bases back 5 feet for safety. Last there are less hard hit balls hit 5 feet into foul territory then there are on the 3rd base line just based on where players are trying to hit the ball.

Seriously stop the whining, as a fielder it has almost no impact on the game and it makes the game marginally safer.



This makes no sense, the runner was given the option to move into foul territory and did it on their own free will. The odds of the league getting sued here are just as likely as they would for getting sued for not requiring helmets or some other stupid unreasonable reason that an injured person would sue.

It does make sense. Helmets are not required by any association, keeping in contact with the base is. I run a league and believe me, little tiny things like these can screw you if there is an injury,

 

[rhound50]

It does make sense. Helmets are not required by any association, keeping in contact with the base is. I run a league and believe me, little tiny things like these can screw you if there is an injury,

The rule is optional and its put in to allow players to be in a safer position. There are lots of local rules like this that are not in an association rule book. Our local rec coed league makes it a force at home plate and the runner runs to a line instead of home plate to avoid collisions, its an USSSA league but the rule is not in the rulebook. When the ground is wet the local umpires will tell players to not touch the bases unless there is a play so no one slips and gets hurt. Lots of places have started requiring pitchers to wear masks or use pitching screens. None of this is in any association rule book, by your logic these leagues setting themselves up to be sued? I don't ish about insurance so I'm not sure how that would work but it seems to me that all these other rules are added for safety and their insurance companies are not up in arms.

 

[SevenBizzos]

I'm kind of surprised how many people are so butthurt about this. My local league allows it, I don't do it and I've never seen anyone do it in a sanctioned tournament. Really who cares, its a disadvantage to the base runner and has no other impact on the play.

Call it a ***** rule if you like but it is safer. Even if the runner moves just 5 feet off the base they are marginally farther from the hitter. Most of the times I've seen this happen the runner also takes a couple steps towards the outfield. For those who say its only 5 feet farther it doesn't matter, then let me ask why a bunch of associations have considered pushing bases back 5 feet for safety. Last there are less hard hit balls hit 5 feet into foul territory then there are on the 3rd base line just based on where players are trying to hit the ball.

Seriously stop the whining, as a fielder it has almost no impact on the game and it makes the game marginally safer. .

I was reading the same thing. I never realized how passionate people were about making sure the runner stood on the bag. Never.

For whatever it's worth, I've probably seen ten runners get hit and maybe one base coach. That's just my observation.

People keep saying the distance is the same so it shouldn't matter. I guess by that logic the catcher and ump are putting their lives at risk every game.

On defense, if you're not paying attention to where the runners are before the pitch, you need to rethink your awareness routine.

It makes a difference to a lot of people. If you have a league that allows it, you should feel fortunate. There's a lot of people that are passionate about making sure you are anchored to the base.

 

[spos21ram]

The rule is optional and its put in to allow players to be in a safer position. There are lots of local rules like this that are not in an association rule book. Our local rec coed league makes it a force at home plate and the runner runs to a line instead of home plate to avoid collisions, its an USSSA league but the rule is not in the rulebook. When the ground is wet the local umpires will tell players to not touch the bases unless there is a play so no one slips and gets hurt. Lots of places have started requiring pitchers to wear masks or use pitching screens. None of this is in any association rule book, by your logic these leagues setting themselves up to be sued? I don't ish about insurance so I'm not sure how that would work but it seems to me that all these other rules are added for safety and their insurance companies are not up in arms.

Just because a league has there own rules doesn't mean the insurance will cover them. I bet the LD's that make up their own rules never even thought to ask their insurance carrier if it will effect the coverage. Like if a USSSA league uses a .44 core ASA ball and a pitcher gets drilled guess what? There's gonna be a lawsuit coming by the pitcher if he chooses to do so.

I don't understand your examples, they really aren't the same type of scenario we are talking about. A pitcher can wear a helmet if he wants to. There's nothing against it in the rules. If he is wearing one and gets hit and somehow still gets injured then the insurance will cover the league as long as the mound was at the proper distance, the ball was the association's ball, and the bat was approved by that association.

 

[rhound50]

Just because a league has there own rules doesn't mean the insurance will cover them. I bet the LD's that make up their own rules never even thought to ask their insurance carrier if it will effect the coverage. Like if a USSSA league uses a .44 core ASA ball and a pitcher gets drilled guess what? There's gonna be a lawsuit coming by the pitcher if he chooses to do so.

I don't understand your examples, they really aren't the same type of scenario we are talking about. A pitcher can wear a helmet if he wants to. There's nothing against it in the rules. If he is wearing one and gets hit and somehow still gets injured then the insurance will cover the league as long as the mound was at the proper distance, the ball was the association's ball, and the bat was approved by that association.

My examples are there to show that just because a rule is not in the rulebook does not mean that if someone gets hurt they are automatically going to sue and win millions. A league gives a pitcher an option to wear a helmet because it is safer for the player. In this case the baserunner is given the option to stand away from the base because it is safer. If the pitcher still gets hurt he is just as likely to win a lawsuit as the player who chooses to stand off the bag.

As I said there are tons of local leagues that have their own rules to protect players. Maybe you have had issues with your insurance provider but I'm pretty sure if you tell your insurance providers that you are adding rules to lower the risk of injury their response is not going to drop you.

 

[irishmafia]

Facts of ASA men's/women's/co-rec softball:

You are required to maintain contact with the base until the ball reaches the plate.

Once it reaches the plate, the runners can go anywhere they please, including away from the batter if that makes them feel safer.

Allowing a rule to go unenforced is poor and unprofessional performance for the umpire.

Allowing the runner to leave the base DOES give the batter more room to hit if they do care about their teammate and would not hit there if the runner was required to stay on the base.

Most umpires do not see this as a matter of normal view of the field or angle from the bases prior to the pitch. When there is an umpire on 3B, there is no way the runner is not noticed stepping off the base.

It is the rule and has been in place longer than many of your grandparents have been alive. Why are so many in favor of weaking an already athletically questionable game?

The bats and ball are hotter, no doubt. But if that is your excuse, rectify it by not using the equipment which is causing the issue. Would you be willing to do that?

 

[stang7222]

Seriously, where do your leagues get their women? Even our worst gals know how to run bases, pay attention to the game, and get the hell out of the way when necessary. Stop trolling for players in the Wal Mart parking lot.

I'd say about half the girls in the league were players. 25 percent were ok and 25percent (including 2 on my team) would be lucky if they made it to first without tripping. Everybody is allowed to play ball even if they are terrible. I joined because my gf wanted to play with me so we jumped on a team.