Runners leaving early reviews
Sine I was at the game, I didn’t see the review of the Georgia runner leaving early on Saturday that Pete challenged.From the board posts, it seems like it appeared she left early but wasn’t called out - even upon review.
According to Graham Hayes of D1 Softball, those type of reviews are becoming common this season. Stanford requested a review of a Texas runner leaving early Saturday night in the 7th inning of a tie game. What was unique about that review is that it was “on a pitch where she wasn’t running and the ball wasn’t put into play. Stanford won the challenge and eventually the game.”
Hayes is an excellent softball writer who has an interesting perspective on whether the review rules is a good one: “I worry that the change fits into a larger trend in sports of turning adherence to the rules into the point of playing the game. Sports are about competition, achievement and entertainment. That’s it. Rules exist to facilitate those goals. They serve the game. By stopping the game to see whether a runner, on a play where nothing actually happened, left the base a tenth of a second before the ball was out of the pitcher’s hand, we’re making the game subservient to the rules.
“Leaving it to umpires to see violations in real time means they will call it just often enough so that runners generally respect the spirit of the rule. And that’s the whole point of the rule”
Interesting point of view.
9 Replies
2y
every case, she has asked the first base ump if her timing is ok. The first base ump never has had a problem with her leaving early. She has been called once for early and it was MUCH closer than Pete's review where the runner was clearly off the bag.
** Edited by stat_hokie at 2/27/2024, 10:52:55 AM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2y
too soon in our game with the "one camera behind the backstop" replay, then there was no way they could call her out. I know the logistics of televised games when there is only one camera, for the most part, make it almost impossible to review. I watched the replay of the Hokie baseball game from yesterday with just the one stationary camera behind the backstop and it just made the blow-out by the Hokies not enjoyable. The players looked like ants on the screen.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
D
dallasvt
2y
but not overturned (for some reason).
(In response to this post by ColWilliamFleming)
2y
As I said, I was there and didn't have access to the video, but that looks pretty conclusive.
(In response to this post by dallasvt)
2y
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2y
(In response to this post by HokieAllMyLife)
Now how about that pitch clock?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2y
I recall a coach not challenging 'batting out of turn' while his team was winning. Used it later in the game to his team's advantage.
As a former baseball umpire, I agree with the writer's perspective - no advantage, no call except maybe a warning to let them know you know. Some LL coaches used to signal the runner leaving the base. The pitch had to be at home plate under their rules.
(In response to this post by VTChip)