Let me set the stage...runners on 1st and 2nd, pitched ball gets by the catcher, runners advance to 2nd and 3rd. While attempting to pick the ball up, the catcher kicks the ball into the dugout, runner on 3rd scores, runner on 2nd advances to 3rd.
When ball enters dugout, umpire calls 'time' and says the runners must return to 2nd and 3rd, as the play was based on a 'pitched ball'. When questioned, umpire agreed the ball had been kicked but held firm to his original ruling.
As the catcher made a second attempt on the ball, while with his foot rather than glove or throwing hand, does this not constitute a second overthrow, per se?
Posts: 65 | Location: Dallas Area | Registered: May 01, 2007
If the pitch is deflected into the dugout, the award is one base from the TOP. If the fielder provided the force that sent the ball into the dugout (as in the situation you describe), it's 2 bases.
Posts: 326 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: December 19, 2007
Unless the umpire judges that the ball would have gone OOP on it's own. From PBUC: If the umpire judges that the deflected ball would have gone out of play on it's own, the award in this situation is one base.
HTBT, but he may have ruled this correctly.
Posts: 237 | Location: W | Registered: May 23, 2005
