Rules questions

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Had a rather crazy weekend . All sorts of unusual happenings . First was runner on second , two outs , and ONE strike on the batter . Pitcher delivers the pitch , was either a swing or a called strike .. The entire team on D thinks it's strike three and the catcher throws ball back to pitcher who sets it down or rolls it away from where she was and starts to head In towards dugout . My runner isn't any more aware than the defensive team and takes at least 5-6 steps towards our dugout . At this point I holler " get back on the base that's only two strikes -- so the pitcher kinda panics and rushes to the ball about time my runner breaks back to the bag . Pitcher picks ball up and throws it into CF . My runner gets back to second and actually scored . But no doubt she was inbetween 2b and the circle when the play started . So the other team wants a ruling that my runner was out of the base line . Which I can understand . What's the ruling on that ?
The second involves playing under a time limit . We were the visiting team and behind a couple runs . Home team batting . The third out is recorded with just a few seconds on the home team , they are walking on field to start a new inning as the final seconds tick off . Blue actually says " game over " but I successfully lobbied that since they had actually taken the field a new inning had started . But I was unsure of the written rule . When does a new inning actually start ? After the third out ? When team takes field ? First pitch go the inning ? Thanks

 

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An inning begins the EXACT SECOND the 3rd out of the prior inning is recorded.

The other one...the "baseline" rule would not apply because that can only be cited when a fielder has the ball & is in their path. In fact, the runner can round 1B, run clear to the right field foul pole, turn back & go towards 2B....their baseline isn't established until a fielder in their direct path has the ball.
Very interesting situation there.

 

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1) RE: Out of the baseline. This is another one of those rules that gets misapplied, or at least argued, time and time again.

The rule is that a runner may not deviate more than three feet from their base PATH (not the base LINE, an important distinction) to avoid a tag. That is the part that people miss. There must be a tag attempt by the defense before a runner can be called out of the basepath.

The base line is just the line directly between each base. Of course, runners don't have to run from base to base at a strict 90 degree angle. They can, and do, round the bases. The runner establishes her own base path.

When a fielder has the ball and is attempting a tag, the runners base path is defined as a straight line directly to the base she is attempting to reach. Now we have a line from which the runner may not deviate more than three feet to either side. If she does, then she is out.

But, if no tag is being attempted runners can pretty much go wherever they want- assuming that they stay in live ball area. A batter could hit the ball and run to the pitcher's circle, then head to first base, then run to the outfield wall, come in and touch second, run to the infield and circle the pitcher's plate three times, go to third, run over by the third base dugout, then the on-deck circle and finally head to home. As long as no fielder had the ball and was attempting to tag her, she would NOT be out offer base path and would NOT be out.

For the play you listed, this is nothing. No tag was being attempted so the runner can't be out of the base path. But every time you see a runner go any unusual direction, somebody will be screaming that she is "out of the base line". Sorry, no she isn't.

2) By rule, the inning ends and the next inning starts exactly when the third out is made. So, if there is one second left when the third out is made, you are then instantly in the next inning. When the team leaves the field, or when the other team takes the field doesn't have anything to do with it.

 

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Dan ... good questions and Bretman, great explanations. I have seen both come up several times over the years, and it is good to educate as many people as possible as to the correct rules.

 

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Some tourneys use the "drop dead" rule especially in pool play. With this rule the umpire can stop the game couldn't they?

 

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Sure, if using the "drop dead" format that means you stop right where you are and don't play any further.