You make the call

Situation: Washington Nationals are playing the Boston Red Sox. The Nationals are surprisingly leading late in the game 3-2. In the bottom of the eight, the Red Sox have a runner at 3rd base with one out and Kevin Millar is at the plate. Nick Johnson, playing first base for the Nationals, picks up the suicide squeeze sign from the Red Sox third base coach.

The Play: Johnson breaks toward home as the pitcher goes into his delivery. The runner at 3rd base for the Red Sox, Johnny Damon, breaks for the plate a split second later, after making sure that righty pitcher TJ Tucker is actually going to the plate. Johnson catches the pitch before it reaches the plate and tags a sliding Johnny Damon five feet up the third base line.

What's the call?

 

I believe the umpire would rule that a balk according to rule 7.07 of the ORB! Millar is awarded 1st and Damon is ruled safe at home.

[size=-1]7.07[/size][size=-1] If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.[/size]
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:applause: :applause: :applause:

Great job ....

Here's another one for you.

Situation: Same game. It's now the top of the 9th with the score tied 3-3. The Nationals have loaded the bases and there is only one out. Curt Shilling is still on the mound. He delivers a fastball which the hitter, trying to bunt, barely gets a piece of.

The Play: The ball lands in fair territory directly in front of the plate and spins backwards, stopping on home plate. The catcher for the Red Sox scoops up the ball off of home plate and fires it to first.

What's the call?

 

I might be wrong on this one,but I believe this is a double play,with the runner coming from 3rd out on the force and the batter out on the 2-3 assist and put-out.

 

Fair ball! Catcher fire to 1st for out 2 then when the first baseman throws home, the force is off and the catcher must now tag the runner coming from 3rd. Double play,out of the inning.

 

Even though he extended the play in his imagination, homer3 is closer this time.

Statman, the act of picking up the ball off of the plate doesn't constitute a tag. The catcher would have had to either brush the plate with his foot while still in possession of the ball or else "tapped" the plate with the ball when he was picking it up. Rule 7.08 (C)

Final answer: There are now 2 outs, runners at 2nd & 3rd and a run is in.

 

Here is a new one --- a simple yes/no answer.

Situation: Runners on first and second base with one out.

The Play: The batter hits a short fly ball to RF which appears destined to drop and both runners are off like a shot. The RF makes a spectacular diving play, catching the ball on a shoestring catch, rolls over 3 times and lobs the ball to first base, right after the runner from 2nd has reached the dugout and the runner from first has crossed home plate.

The umpire calls the runner from first out on the DNT (Did Not Tag) rule and the team heads in for their turn at bat.

Does the run from 2nd count?

 

I assumed the catcher was aware of the situation and would tag home before picking up the ball and throwing to first!! Don't you think a major league player would be that aware ? I know our High School boys are!!

 

The key to the question was that the catcher picked up to ball which had come to rest ON HOME PLATE. Even though the ball is in contact with home when it's grasped by the catcher, that doesn't constitute a tag of the plate, which is the part of the rule that surprises most people

 

No,the runners were off anticipating a safe hit and would have had to come back and tag up after the fly was caught! If the runner didn't tag up after the second out was made and the play resulted in the runner being out at 1st,NO RUN,3 outs! Umpire ruling is correct!!