It’s the bottom of the sixth, and the hometown Wildcats are down by one. The opposing pitcher of the rival Padres has loaded the bases, and his manager is hoping for a miracle, because he has no other pitcher. Two outs, 3-2 count on the batter, and the pitcher winds up and pitches.

The base umpire, Tom, watches the pitcher release the ball and quickly glances at the runners. He sees the runner on first (R1) come off the base as the ball is thrown. He picks up the ball again as the batter smashes a line drive to left-center field. As he reaches into his pocket for his red flag, Tom busts into the infield, heading for the working area behind the mound. Pausing slightly to let the runner on second (R2) start running in front of him toward third, Tom drops the flag in the infield dirt. He reaches the working area and keeps his head on a swivel, watching R1 touch second and seeing the batter-runner (BR) touch first.

The ball goes to the fence, and all the runners keep running. All three runners score, and the BR is heading toward third. Tom sees the BR touch second and moves to get an angle on the play at third, hustling toward an imaginary 30 foot line on the third base line to open the angle. The ball and the BR arrive at third and the batter-runner slides in a cloud of dust. Tom clearly sees a tag though, and calls the BR out.

Knowing that only the BR’s advance toward third moved the runners home, and knowing that the BR is now out, Tom calls “Time!” And says, “The runner on first left early. All runners return. No runs score.”

If one runner leaves early, all runners may be affected. If the BR gets a legitimate hit he must get the appropriate number of bases for the value of the hit. But if there is room to return runners, put them back on base regardless of which one left early. Even if the BR had been thrown out at home, bring all the runners back, no runs score.

That was an easy one. Now imagine that the BR hit the ball in the infield, the shortstop bobbled the ball, and all runners advanced one base and the BR was safe on first. Now what? Tom will call “Time!” And then say, “The runner on first left early. No run scores! No run scores!” All the runners and the BR will remain where they are, but R3 who ran home on the play is “removed”. No run scores. The old “poof” rule.

Make sure you umpires understand Baseball Rule 7.13 because most coaches and players don’t. Be prepared to explain why you did what you did.

Have fun and good luck!

By Don Essex
Virginia District 9