This Case Play has been completed. Congratulations to UEFL League Members TonyTheRed, sachmet, and cyclone14, as UEFL visitor Penwhale for correctly answering both parts of the posted play. kickersrule answered (b), but not (a), correctly. The correct response is:
(a) B1 is safe and the ball is dead when no further play is possible (as prescribed by the phrasing of the scenario).
(b) B1 is ruled out on appeal and the ball is dead after the live ball appeal (as prescribed by the phrasing of the scenario).
Per MLB Rule 6.05(j), the batter is out when, "...after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base." When the fielder has also missed first base, no out may be called, as neither criteria of Rule 6.05(j) has been fulfilled. The batter-runner, therefore, may only be declared out by appeal under Rule 7.10(b): "Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when- with the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is tagged." Our B1, therefore, may be declared out on appeal, but F3 must appeal; simply stepping on first base is not sufficient per Rule 7.10 Comment: "...A player, inadvertently stepping on the base with a ball in his hand, would not constitute an appeal." In part (a) of the scenario, F3 does not declare his intent to appeal, and has inadvertently stepped on first base for the purposes of an appeal under Rule 7.10. In part (b), F3 clearly indicates that his stepping on first base is a direct act of appeal on B1's actions, and the out should be ruled in part (b) only. Defensive appeals refer to ruling on the offense's actions; they do not refer to judgement calls on the defense's actions.
2 Points Added to:
sachmet is now tied for 3rd place in the UEFL with 8 points.
cyclone14 is now tied for 9th place in the UEFL with 6 points.
TonyTheRed is now tied for 16th place in the UEFL with 3 points.
1 Point Added to:
mtn335 is now in 2nd place in the UEFL with 10 points.
kickersrule is now tied for 11th place in the UEFL with 5 points.
Thank you for participating in this Case Play and congratulations to all participants, who responded with at least partial correctness. Stay tuned for further Case Plays. The original Case Play post has been reproduced below.
Pursuant to UEFL Rule 4.f., this Case Play is open for 48 hours from the time of this post (5/8/11 at 7:00PM). During this time, all Case Play responses will remain in moderation (screened or invisible) until the 48 hour submission period is closed. To receive full point(s) credit, you must answer the following scenario correctly, including any relevant MLB Rule(s) and all relevant results of the play after applying said rule(s).
Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14620831
In the top of the 8th inning, with none out and none on, B1 hits a ground ball to F3, who has to range to his right to field the grounder. F3 and B1 are in a footrace to the first base bag, with F3 arriving at the fair territory side of first base prior to B1 arriving at the foul territory side of first base. Replays indicate (or "for the purposes of this Case Play, let us assume replays indicate") neither B1 nor F3 actually touch the first base bag. U1 (1B Umpire) indicates "safe," points to the fair territory side of first base where F3's foot landed, demonstrating that F3 failed to touch first base. U1 does not rule on B1's actions on the foul territory side of first base at this time. F3 briefly protests the call, and ultimately, while still holding the ball in his glove during a live ball ("time" will not be called until after either (a) or (b) has been completed), F3 touches his foot to the fair territory edge of the first base bag (this time making contact with first base), and (a) clearly demonstrates that F3 thinks he did indeed touch the fair territory side of first base, or (b) verbally requests U1 rule on B1's actions on the foul territory side of first base. For parts (a) and (b) of the scenario, determine the correct result of the play, how play will resume, and the basis on which you reached that decision (cite your rule[s]). (1pt for [a], 1 pt for [b])
Consult the UEFL Rulebook for further information regarding Rule 4.f and Case Plays.