We all learned this rule since we were in preschool. Over the last few years though, I had occasionally heard the preposterous notion that "the runner has to beat the ball". I'm bringing this up now because I heard it again in a B1G broadcast again today (Iowa at MSU maybe?).
So I looked it up. Apparently the "new" interpretation came from MLB umpire Tim McClelland (who must be some kind of a schmoe, because he was also involved in the George Brett pine tar call) who wrote that the concept of a tie at a base does not exist, and that a runner either beats the ball or does not.
Well, that's wrong.
The rule is stated in the Official Baseball Rules, 5.09(a)(10), as follows: (The runner is out when) "After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base". (emphasis added)
In other words, if it's a tie, the runner is safe.
You're welcome.
So I looked it up. Apparently the "new" interpretation came from MLB umpire Tim McClelland (who must be some kind of a schmoe, because he was also involved in the George Brett pine tar call) who wrote that the concept of a tie at a base does not exist, and that a runner either beats the ball or does not.
Well, that's wrong.
The rule is stated in the Official Baseball Rules, 5.09(a)(10), as follows: (The runner is out when) "After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base". (emphasis added)
In other words, if it's a tie, the runner is safe.
You're welcome.
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