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Question about a rule in little league baseball

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Question about a rule in little league baseball
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Mark Mack

Senior Member

109 posts
May 8, 2012 11:09 AM
Saw a situation where the runner was ejected for running over the catcher as he was blocking home plate.

Is that the rule now?
May 8, 2012 11:09am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
May 8, 2012 11:11 AM
It shouldn't be. You can't just give home plate to the catcher and say that once he blocks it the runner gives up the chance to score.
May 8, 2012 11:11am
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MontyBrunswick

May 8, 2012 11:11 AM
Little League is serious business.
May 8, 2012 11:11am
M

Mark Mack

Senior Member

109 posts
May 8, 2012 11:12 AM
It was called an automatic out and the runner was ejected.

I thought that was not right, but the umpire was adament that it was the rule.
May 8, 2012 11:12am
G

Gblock

May 8, 2012 11:14 AM
same rule in high school
May 8, 2012 11:14am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:15 AM
Mark Mack;1165027 wrote:Saw a situation where the runner was ejected for running over the catcher as he was blocking home plate.

Is that the rule now?
Mark Mack,

Yes, that is the rule, and it has been that way for quite awhile. Some will say that the runner "has to slide" but that is not the case. The runner has to avoid contact.
The rule is an ejection, and at the HS level you are gone for two games.

It can be tricky at times. If the catcher is blocking the plate ya best is to slide. I have seen incidental contact, some of it pretty severe, and most times taht is when the ball is thrown up the 3rd base line and the catcher and runner collide.

It has been a rule for quite a long time now.
May 8, 2012 11:15am
M

Mark Mack

Senior Member

109 posts
May 8, 2012 11:16 AM
Thank you for the explanation.
May 8, 2012 11:16am
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thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:17 AM
and lets hope that none of the coaches were assholes about it.
A year ago my step sons coach went ballistic on an umpire when his player ran over the catcher. Even worse, after the game he told the team that the umpire LOST the game for them because of this call, and told the players "to keep running over the catcher" because if you jar the ball loose you will be safe.

I interjected after the game as the coach was folloiwng the ump to the car arguing the rule.
May 8, 2012 11:17am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
May 8, 2012 11:17 AM
...but I believe the catcher must have the ball to block the base path. If he doesn't he is obstructing and the runner is awarded the base.
May 8, 2012 11:17am
M

Mark Mack

Senior Member

109 posts
May 8, 2012 11:18 AM
He made a littlie fit about it, but nothing too big.
May 8, 2012 11:18am
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thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:18 AM
Mark Mack;1165041 wrote:Thank you for the explanation.
No problem. I coached at the HS level for close to ten years. MOST times the runner can avoid contact, but there are occasions where it does get nasty and nothing is called and as i stated its usually when the throw carries the catcher up the line.
May 8, 2012 11:18am
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thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:21 AM
Con_Alma;1165043 wrote:...but I believe the catcher must have the ball to block the base path. If he doesn't he is obstructing and the runner is awarded the base.
You still cannot plow over the catcher tho....whether he has the ball or not.

There is obstruction rules that state as you mention. Many times you see that in a rundown where a fielder does not get out of the way quick enough, and occassionly on an extra base hit and a fielder gets in the way.
May 8, 2012 11:21am
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
May 8, 2012 11:24 AM
thavoice;1165053 wrote:You still cannot plow over the catcher tho....whether he has the ball or not.

There is obstruction rules that state as you mention. Many times you see that in a rundown where a fielder does not get out of the way quick enough, and occassionly on an extra base hit and a fielder gets in the way.
I agree. Running hard through the base line without plowing the catch and having the catcher get in your way without the ball is an interesting call. The both have access to the are if playing their role properly. The catcher can not simply stand in the base path without the ball.
May 8, 2012 11:24am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
May 8, 2012 11:27 AM
If the catcher chooses to block the plate, and he gets run over by a player, throw the catcher out for being an idiot.

I don't know the official rules though.
May 8, 2012 11:27am
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thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:28 AM
Mark Mack;1165045 wrote:He made a littlie fit about it, but nothing too big.
Hopefully he accepted the umpire's explanation. I dont know if LL has the rule of getting suspended for two games. HS level if you get ejected for that, or arguing with the ump, the player is ejected and misses two games.
May 8, 2012 11:28am
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

Senior Member

8,534 posts
May 8, 2012 11:31 AM
Stupid rule. If the catcher is good at blocking the plate you have no chance of sliding in safe, so basically if theres a play at the plate at the anywhere up until the HS level, its pretty much an automatic out
May 8, 2012 11:31am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
May 8, 2012 11:33 AM
Hb31187;1165064 wrote:Stupid rule. If the catcher is good at blocking the plate you have no chance of sliding in safe, so basically if theres a play at the plate at the anywhere up until the HS level, its pretty much an automatic out
Yeah, this is my problem with it. I'm glad baseball hadn't been pussified before I stopped playing.
May 8, 2012 11:33am
M

Mark Mack

Senior Member

109 posts
May 8, 2012 11:35 AM
justincredible;1165066 wrote:Yeah, this is my problem with it. I'm glad baseball hadn't been pussified before I stopped playing.
When I was playing little league, we use to run over the catcher and there was no problem with it. It was a normal thing.
May 8, 2012 11:35am
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thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 8, 2012 11:39 AM
Hb31187;1165064 wrote:Stupid rule. If the catcher is good at blocking the plate you have no chance of sliding in safe, so basically if theres a play at the plate at the anywhere up until the HS level, its pretty much an automatic out
You cannot run over the catcher in HS either.
May 8, 2012 11:39am
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

Senior Member

8,534 posts
May 8, 2012 11:45 AM
thavoice;1165077 wrote:You cannot run over the catcher in HS either.
Worded it wrong. I meant through the HS level.

Its retarded none the less though lol
May 8, 2012 11:45am
Big_Mirg_ZHS's avatar

Big_Mirg_ZHS

Recovering Pothead

2,079 posts
May 8, 2012 11:48 AM
Being a tank and a catcher, not many people would try to run me over. Was great one time in babe ruth i tagged on a sac fly and the catcher said fuck it and didnt even try to catch the ball because he knew i would have flattened him. And i also am glad i playe baseball before it was pussified.
May 8, 2012 11:48am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
May 8, 2012 11:51 AM
thavoice;1165042 wrote:and lets hope that none of the coaches were assholes about it.
A year ago my step sons coach went ballistic on an umpire when his player ran over the catcher. Even worse, after the game he told the team that the umpire LOST the game for them because of this call, and told the players "to keep running over the catcher" because if you jar the ball loose you will be safe.

I interjected after the game as the coach was folloiwng the ump to the car arguing the rule.
Good teaching moment totally screwed up by that coach. Those are the types you don't want coaching your kids.
May 8, 2012 11:51am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
May 8, 2012 11:51 AM
Mark Mack;1165027 wrote:Saw a situation where the runner was ejected for running over the catcher as he was blocking home plate.

Is that the rule now?
Only in the pros can you run over a catcher... Period. No matter what the catcher is doing.

The ump made the right call.
May 8, 2012 11:51am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
May 8, 2012 11:54 AM
Con_Alma;1165043 wrote:...but I believe the catcher must have the ball to block the base path. If he doesn't he is obstructing and the runner is awarded the base.
Doesn't have to have the ball but has to be in the process of receiving the ball. As in the throw is almost home. You can block the plate without the ball but the ball better be on the way to you from an infielder or the catcher can be called for obstruction.
May 8, 2012 11:54am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
May 8, 2012 11:56 AM
Here's a Q:

Why don't high school teams just getting a 300lb person to sit on home plate? No runs will ever be scored, ever.
May 8, 2012 11:56am