Friday, July 20, 2012

Close Call - Baseball Rules and the Tie

By Shyla T. Agerter


Right after a close play have you heard a Little League coach or even an announcer on TV state that a "tie would go to a runner"? It is a common saying in only about each and every baseball and also softball league in America. It is a misconception, however is it actually wrong?

MLB's rule book makes it apparent that a runner shall have the right to an unoccupied base whenever he touches this before he is out. On the other hand, the rule book likewise makes it clear that if a runner is tagged or even forced out without touching a base or even scoring they should be called out. Rules 7.01 and also 7.1 cover these two scenarios fairly vigilantly. But, there isn't any mention of exactly what should be done when it comes to a tie. In case a runner touches a base in the actual second a tag is used is he out or does he acquire the right to the base?

Imagine a situation where you are umpiring an extremely competitive game and there is a bang-bang play initially and you can't tell exactly what the right call is. What do you do? You make a decision and also deal with the fallout of an angry coach as well as audience. Within this circumstance we can begin to see where the saying comes from. It was derived to help umpires make a call that's or else too difficult to make.

Given MLB's rules and the insufficient coverage when it comes to a tie, numerous umpires see this as a statement coming from major league baseball that there are no ties. The actual argument is the ball either arrived before the runner or even the runner got there ahead of the ball, consequently he is either out or perhaps safe. But in reality that isn't a lot more when compared to a reason for vague rule guideline. In the real world, even though rare, there is a possibility there is an actual tie and baseball doesn't know what to do about this.

Perhaps is definitely our more modern world of video instant replay that it's time for you to lend umpire a hand by looking at some close plays. Or, maybe the rule should be altered to accommodate the presence of a tie. Or even, perhaps things have gone well during the last century and close plays that swing in the favor of one team or even the other are a powerful part of the game that should be left untouched.




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