David Yudkin
Footballguy
In my buddy's slow pitch softball league (it's an accredited town sponsored league), the following happened and I can't at all see why this decision was allowed to stand:
TEAM A was up by 3 runs in the next to last inning. TEAM B had the bases loaded and the batter cranked one to South America for a grand slam that should have given TEAM B a 1 run lead. But the batter for TEAM B completely missed first base while rounding the bases, and the first baseman and umpire both clearly saw this.
Once the batter crossed homeplate, the homeplate ump gave the catcher a new ball. The catcher promptly threw to first to appeal and the first base umpire stated appeals could only come by retrieving the ball from the pitcher after he was prepared to face a new batter. So the firstbasemen threw the ball to the pitcher who threw it back to first base and TEAM A appealed.
The umpire waited a second then gave the safe sign. The firstbasemen went nuts asking how he could call the guy safe. The umpire explained that they did not specify what they were appealing and the team needed to explain EXACTLY what they were appealing (batter missing first base) because they could also have asserted that the base runner had left too soon and since they didn't clarify he on his own picked that they were appealing that the runner left too soon (in this league there is no leading off the base, so technically that is something you could appeal). He ruled that the runner did not leave early and therefore they were not entitled to another appeal and his ruling stood with the batter called safe.
He also went on to say that technically he did not even have to listen to the appeal because they didn't appeal it properly in the first place, and it's the team's responsibility to know and follow the rules. The ump even admitted that the batter never touched the base and should have been out but because the team didn't follow the rules he was going to have to call him safe.
After the ensuing riot and a couple of ejections, TEAM A failed to score in the next inning and lost.
Someone explain this to me, as this makes less sense than the clock malfunction play in the Orlando basketball playoff series.
TEAM A was up by 3 runs in the next to last inning. TEAM B had the bases loaded and the batter cranked one to South America for a grand slam that should have given TEAM B a 1 run lead. But the batter for TEAM B completely missed first base while rounding the bases, and the first baseman and umpire both clearly saw this.
Once the batter crossed homeplate, the homeplate ump gave the catcher a new ball. The catcher promptly threw to first to appeal and the first base umpire stated appeals could only come by retrieving the ball from the pitcher after he was prepared to face a new batter. So the firstbasemen threw the ball to the pitcher who threw it back to first base and TEAM A appealed.
The umpire waited a second then gave the safe sign. The firstbasemen went nuts asking how he could call the guy safe. The umpire explained that they did not specify what they were appealing and the team needed to explain EXACTLY what they were appealing (batter missing first base) because they could also have asserted that the base runner had left too soon and since they didn't clarify he on his own picked that they were appealing that the runner left too soon (in this league there is no leading off the base, so technically that is something you could appeal). He ruled that the runner did not leave early and therefore they were not entitled to another appeal and his ruling stood with the batter called safe.
He also went on to say that technically he did not even have to listen to the appeal because they didn't appeal it properly in the first place, and it's the team's responsibility to know and follow the rules. The ump even admitted that the batter never touched the base and should have been out but because the team didn't follow the rules he was going to have to call him safe.
After the ensuing riot and a couple of ejections, TEAM A failed to score in the next inning and lost.
Someone explain this to me, as this makes less sense than the clock malfunction play in the Orlando basketball playoff series.
I think the Ump just wanted to impress everyone with his complete knowledge of the rules. He went home, opened a beer, put his feet up, and smiled widely at the job well done. He is the rules master.
I think the Ump just wanted to impress everyone with his complete knowledge of the rules. He went home, opened a beer, put his feet up, and smiled widely at the job well done. He is the rules master.
In your FACE Team A! 
