Umpire ruling

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What is the correct call? On ground ball thrown to first, the umpire sees the first basemen pull their foot and the runner misses first base. Does the umpire call the runner safe or no call at all.

Thanks

 

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The runner has not been put out by the defense and until she is, she is "safe".

A runner who passes a base, but fails to touch it, is considered to have touched the base until properly appealed by the defense.

The correct call by the umpire on this play is to announce and signal "safe". Then, watch the rest of the play! If the defense properly appeals the miss before the runner returns and touches first base, only then would the runner be out.

If the runner gets back to the bag before the appeal, she is still "safe"!

 

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What is the proper appeal process? Do you just step on the base or touch the runner and show the umpire the ball?

 

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This play requires an unmistakable, live-ball appeal. The fielder can either tag the base or the runner before she returns to touch first. The fielder must also state to the umpire what it is she's appealing. Simply saying, "She missed the base", while applying the tag would be enough.

 

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What if the runner gets taged after missing the base before she gets back to the base. do you get the call from the umpire right then or do you still have to appeal the play?

 

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The tag itself is the appeal play. The fielder just needs to let the umpire know why she is making the tag, since there are different rules about overrunning first base than the other bases.

This is a live ball appeal, on a play where the runner is normally ruled safe if she touches the base the first time and is immune from being tagged out after overrunning first. The fielder needs to make the verbal appeal in conjunction with the physical tag so that it is clear just exactly what she is appealing.

Call the out as soon as you have both, the tag and the verbal appeal. If the tag happens before the runner comes back to touch first, but the runner gets back before the fielder can spit out, "She missed the base!", that is a valid appeal.

 

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Is this the same ruling you would have in pro baseball?

 

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Pretty much the same. There is one little twist.

The same rule about the runner being safe until appealed for the miss applies. And, the umpire there should also signal "safe" on the first pass of the base.

The twist is that pro rules have the concept of "relaxed" versus "unrelaxed" action. Basically, "relaxed" action means that the runner is past the base and making no immediate effort to correct his miss. The fielder can tag either the base or the runner for the appeal.

"Unrelaxed" action means that the runner is making some effort to quickly return, scramble back and touch the base. In that case, the runner himself must be tagged, not the base.

This concept of "relaxed" and "unrelaxed" action applies to all misses of not only first base, but also at home plate. Note that those are the only two bases that may be legally overrun when advancing.

(No way am I claiming to be a "pro" umpire! The above is from my copy of "The Rules of Professional Baseball", a text book that was used in one of the pro umpire schools from which MLB culls its recruits.)