Using (D) as our starting point, it is high time to answer one of the most confusing and myth-laden plays in baseball.
During Sam Holbrook's recent ejection of Zack Greinke for spiking a baseball, the issue of "tie" made an appearance as video replay appeared to indicate that pitcher Greienke and batter-runner Jose Altuve's feet contacted the first base bag at approximately the same time.
We start our analysis where every officiating review should begin—the Rules Book. During this subsequent examination, we will specifically review Rules 2.00 [Out], 2.00 [Safe], 6.05(j), 6.09(a), 7.01 and 7.08(e).
At this point you might be thinking, "all those rules just for a tie?" Yes, it is absolutely vital for without a thorough analysis of the Rules Book, the principle of "tie" may be misinterpreted.
Rule 2.00 [Out]: One of three required retirements of an offensive team during its time at bat.
Rule 2.00 [Safe]: Declaration by the umpire that a runner is entitled to the base for which he was trying.
Rule 6.05(j): After he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base (batter is out).
Rule 6.09(a): The batter becomes a runner when he hits a fair ball.
Rule 7.01: Runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out.
Rule 7.08(e): He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next base (runner is out).
With these six regulations in hand, the analysis may begin. The following analysis may be specific to this play (B1-F1 tie at first base). It is important to note that per Rule 2.00 [Out], an out is a "retirement," while Rule 2.00 [Safe] specifies that safe is a declaration of "entitlement" or "right."
Rule 6.05(j) pertains to the batter and specifies that B1 is out if first base is tagged before B1 touches it.
Rule 7.08(e) specifies B1 [Rule 6.09(a)] is out if first base is tagged before he touches it.
Next, recall Rule 2.00 [Safe]. Time for transativity: Rule 7.01 pertains to the runner (the batter becomes a runner when he hits a fair ball [Rule 6.09(a)]) and specifies that B1 is safe if he touches first base before he is out. Because "acquires the right" is a criteria of "safe," that word may be used here.
Alternately, Rule 7.01 may be transatively phrased to read, "The runner is safe when he touches [first base] before he has been retired by F1, who retires B1 by tagging first base before B1 has touched it."
B1 is not out until F1 tags first base before B1's arrival. B1 has to beat the out call; F1 has to beat B1.
Succinctly, if B1 is out, then F1 has tagged first base before B1 has touched it; By contraposition, if F1 does not tag first base before B1 touches it, then B1 is not out—Because the original statement is true, the contrapositive must likewise be true. Per Rule 7.08(e), these two possibilities may be described as "out" or "not out," in contrast to "out" or "safe." However, because Rule 7.01 specifies that if a runner touches a base before he is out, he is safe, "not out" may become "safe."
As such, all Rules agree: The batter-runner is out if his person or first base is tagged before B1 himself has touched first base. The defensive tag must beat the offensive touch.
Mathematically, if F1 > B1 (wherein ">" indicates "arrives prior to"), then B1 is out.
However, if F1 < B1 (wherein "<" indicates "does not arrive prior to"), then B1 must be safe.
So back to our original question: Tie indeed goes to the runner, solely because it cannot go to the fielder.
Related: Ejections 084, 085: Sam Holbrook (3,4) / UEFL Appeals Board Majority Opinion
Poll Question: Which is true concerning ties and baseball?
19 comments :
Once and for all, ties don't exist.
@Doug
Well said, simply because a play "looks" or "sounds" like a tie - there is still no such thing. That becomes especially important when trying to make a call - if you reject the presence of a tie it is much easier to rule safe or out...
To me the rule book makes it sound more confusing than acutally making sense.
When in doubt..... Call him out!
I hate to break it to the pundits here, but there IS such a thing as a tie. Just like there IS a slight chance that someone will have the same DNA network as you. Slim? Yes. Impossible? Most definitely not.
As for this play, if we use 7.08 and what it takes for a runner to be safe, Altuve was NOT. He did not touch the bag BEFORE Greinke did. But that being said, this is a VERY tough call for Holbrook to make. Very tough. Ejecting Greinke for being upset with the play simply compounded the erroneous judgment.
"7.08(e) Any runner is out when he fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags him or the base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner."
The OBR wording was changed in 2010 for 7.08(e). Prior to that, the same rationale as described above made it appear that the tie went to the fielder when a force play was made at second, third or home whereas the tie went to the batter/runner at first.
Considering that umpires can miss a first baseman being 3 feet off the bag, let us not get over indulgent on the power of the human brain to discriminate between infinitesimally small difference in time or distance. Recall the Altuve/Greinke play. The tie consisted of both of them placing a foot on the first base bag at the same time while running in tandem to, on and over the bag. That is not a terribly difficult choreography to constitute a "tie" within the accuracy that the human brain can perceive. Do this experiment - have an umpire sit across from you at a table. Raise your arms above your head then slam your palms simultaneously down on the table. Now, would anyone honestly argue that the umpire could discern which hand landed first? That is called a "tie". That is a three part confluence (two feet and one bag). Most plays at first are a four part confluence - the ball, the glove, the runner's foot and the bag. Admittedly, it is harder to orchestrate those four elements into a tie, but it can be done. All that aside, it is incumbent on the defense to do what it has to do BEFORE the runner gets there BY RULE. If the umpire perceives it to be AT THE SAME TIME or AFTER, the runner should be ruled SAFE.
@ Double Down, I think you have it backwards. Whether Altuve touched second before Greinke did or not is irrelevant. Because Greinke did not touch it before Altuve, Altuve is safe.
Ties DO exist. Umpires who don't acknowledge this have their head in the sand. As I previously said, ESPN did a study a few years ago - on average in 1 of 6 MLB games there is a play that is inconclusive even after slo-mo replay review. That play is, for all intents and purposes a "tie". The problem is, there are 3 possible events and only 2 possible results: 1) Runner beats throw; 2) Runner doesn't beat throw; 3) "too-close-to-call" (i.e., a tie). Only results allowed are: 1) safe and 2) out
So you have to squeeze the 3 possibilities into 2 possible outcomes. How do you handle this? By rule (at least at 1st base) "ties go to the runner. A tie equals safe.
That is NOT the same as saying their are no ties in baseball. It's simply a matter of how you deal with the ties that DO occur.
@UmpAtty - well stated. As of 2010, the wording in OBR was changed in 7.08(e) so the tie goes to the runner on forces at the bases. It now reads very much like 6.xx which pertains to the Batter/Runner. Beware the use of 7/08(e) version prior to 2010 which indicated the tie goes to the defense. At the present time, all ties go to the runner at all bases.
Best thread ever. Gil's summary and 10 comments only, still this is a excellent topic.
IF a infielder gets a easy ground ball to him, he mishandles it, picks it up again and throws it to first. Very close..
Runner is safe.
Fielder had a chance and blew it.. now wants a favor..
Make the play
MLB needs to do more editing. "Tie goes to the runner" does not apply in 7.08d ( retouching after a caught fly). And, tie goes to the runner does not apply in NFHS rules. Don't know how NCAA reads.
"All that aside, it is incumbent on the defense to do what it has to do BEFORE the runner gets there BY RULE. If the umpire perceives it to be AT THE SAME TIME or AFTER, the runner should be ruled SAFE. "
Disagreed 100%, based on rule 7.08e. That is NOT "before" the defender as required. Bob Davidson (as much as I dislike him), or at least I recall it being Balkin' Bob, talked about this a few years back in a clinic. It is not a matter of opinion if you read the words carefully (within the rules).
"Double Down, I think you have it backwards. Whether Altuve touched second before Greinke did or not is irrelevant. Because Greinke did not touch it before Altuve, Altuve is safe. "
Maybe we're reading different rulebooks...
Double down. Please make sure you are reading the MOST RECENT version of 7.08(e). It was reworded in 2010. Google that and see the other subtle changed that were made. It now reads the same as 6.xx pertaining to the Batter/Runner.
The arguments in these threads won't make any sense if it is not recognized that the wording was SPECIFICALLY changed. The only wrinkle is a runner trying to get back to a base BEFORE he is doubled up after a catch. That is another letter in 7.08. It says he has to touch the baseBEFORE he or his base is tagged. That is the only remaining circumstance where the tie goes to the defense.
Umpires seem to always comment that they want to see the runner beat the ball. Jim Evans is an exception - his comment show his comprehension of what BEFORE means as it is applied to what the defense must do to get an out on a runner.
In Napoleonic Law,'the defendant has to demonstrate their innocence. In the American system "you are innocent until proven guilty" - the tie goes to the defendant. Current OBR considers the runner safe until the defense makes him out. I think umpires need to be retrained to call force plays and plays at first with that perspective - the opposite of what they do now.
OBR, tie goes to runner except on tag up.
NFHS, tie goes to defense.
NCAA, tie goes to runner at 1B, tie goes to defense on force.
Real world, tie goes to umpire.
Anonymous is right (I knew that). Both 7.08(e) and 6.05(j) now read the same:
"7.08(e) He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next base, after he has been
forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner."
"6.05(j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base;"
Ties go to the runner on both plays
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