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Runners Passing Runners
by M Struck
M Struck asked: Runner on first, no out, ball hit to center. For the double play to occur, the tag situation would have needed to happen. This is where it becomes complicated. Since the umpires didn't make a call on the runners passing, then called the runner from first out on a force, thus leaving him in limbo so he heads to the dugout, a logical thing to do the way they called it. You didn't say whether there was any discussion on this decision or not; but at the point where the umpire's finalized their decision, the offensive teams' manager had the right to appeal that decision to the umpire who actually made the decision. Rule 8.02 Appeal of umpire's decisions:(b) If there is reasonable doubt that any umpire's decision may be in conflict with the rules, the manager may appeal the decision and ask that a correct ruling be made. Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision. (c) If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. If the umpires consult after a play and change a call that had been made, then they have the authority to take all steps that they may deem necessary, in their discretion, to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that they are reversing, including placing runners where they think those runners would have been after the play, had the ultimate call been made as the initial call, disregarding interference or obstruction that may have occurred on the play; failures of runners to tag up based on the initial call on the field; runners passing other runners or missing bases; etc., all in the discretion of the umpires. No player, manager or coach shall be permitted to argue the exercise of the umpire's discretion in resolving the play and any person so arguing shall be subject to ejection. Rule 8.02(c)Comment (Rule 9.02 (c) Comment);...A manager is permitted to ask the umpires for an explanation of the play and how the umpires have exercised their discretion to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that the umpires are reversing. Once the umpires explain the result of the play, however, no one is permitted to argue that the umpires should have exercised their discretion in a different manner. All the above has to happen as soon as the play ends. Based on your description of the play, the batter surely was out and the base runner safe or out at 2B by a tag play, or safe back at 1B. It truly must have been an exciting evening. Those types of things certainly do happen in baseball; but the process is there to work through it and get it right. Once the umpires determine that they have it wrong, they have full power to make it all right, and then move forward. Yours in baseball, Rick |
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