Solution for Case Play 2013-09: Whose Base is it Anyway?

The answer to Iassogna's double Case Play: Whose Base is it Anyway (2013-09) is now available below:

To refresh, with one out and two runners aboard (R1 Lawrie and R3 Reyes) in the Yankees-Blue Jays game, B1 Adam Lind hit a ground ball to F1 Kuroda, who threw to F2 Stewart as R3 Reyes attempted to return to third base. After the brief rundown, R3 dove back into third base as R1 Lawrie stepped on the bag. F2 Stewart threw the ball to F5 Reynolds, who tagged R1 before tagging R3 Reyes, resulting in 3B Umpire Dan Iassogna's double play call.

Answer, Lightning Case Play 2013-09
In responding to the scenario, the following rule was properly identified and referenced: OBR Rule 7.08(c), which states a runner is out when "he is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base."

Also introduced was Rule 7.03(a) - "Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged and the preceding runner is entitled to the base, unless Rule 7.03(b) applies."

Rule 7.03(b) applies in the event of a force play situation, when the following runner is entitled to the base. We can stipulate 7.03(b) does not apply as this is not a force situation (R1's forced base is 2B/R3 none).

Entitlement to a base specifies a runner who has permission to touch a base (and be declared "safe" if tagged while on the base). In this situation, R3 is entitled to third base over R1 (priority entitlement); However, if R3 does not physically touch third base, R1 is entitled to it. Entitlement is not a binding action—it just means the runner is authorized to legally touch a base, if he so chooses. R1 loses entitlement if R3 touches 3B.

R1 is entitled to (touch) third base as long as R3 is not touching third base, but R3 is always entitled to 3B:

If R1 is not touching third base and R3 is not touching third base, then R1 & R3 are entitled to third base.

If R1 is touching third base, but R3 is not touching third base, then R1 & R3 are entitled to third base.

If R1 is not touching third base, but R3 is touching third base, then R3 is entitled to third base.

If R1 is touching third base and R3 is touching third base, then R3 is entitled to third base.

The MLB Umpire Manual (35-35) confirms this: "If two runners are touching a base at the same time, the following runner is out when tagged (unless, of course, the lead runner is forced)."

Rule 7.01 states, "A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out. He is then entitled to it until he is put out, or forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base." Rule 7.01, however, does not apply because of the principle of occupation.

R3 still does occupy third base, as portrayed in Rule 7.08(b) Comment ("a runner is considered to occupy a base until he legally has reached the next succeeding base"); however, trail/following runner R1 may touch third base and be declared safe (unless R3 is simultaneously touching) because with no other runner touching third base, R1 (along with R3) is entitled to it. R3 is entitled to the base over R1, but is not mandated to actually return and touch it. R3 acquired title to the base during the preceding play when he became R3, as opposed to R2, R1 or B1. A runner need not touch a base to occupy it.

Analysis of Rule 7.03(a) produces the following conditional statement, "If two runners are touching a base, [then] the following runner [is] out..." (For the next part, assume both runners are touching a base.)

The simplest proof from this point finds that because the "two runners are touching a base" condition was not satisfied, the conclusion "the following runner is out" cannot apply, as far as 7.03(a) is concerned. Alternately, the indicator for Rule 7.03(a) [the condition it must satisfy for it to be applicable] is "two runners are touching a base." Because two runners were not touching a base at the time of either tag, Rule 7.03(a) does not apply and cannot account for either runner being declared out.

By logical law, the contrapositive of this statement must be true (see: Logical Equivalence, p. 47): "If the following runner is out, then two runners are touching a base." Error: 2 runners were not touching the base.

Read on for a definition of concepts used (entitled, occupy, touch, acquire title) and the CP's conclusion:

Concepts (Y/N in parentheses before term indicates whether multiple persons may hold term at same time)

(Y) Entitled - Permission to perform an act, such as touch a base. Also, a just claim to something, such as respect. Appears in Rules 2.00 [Safe], 3.01(e) Comment, 5.09(g) Comment, 5.10(c)(1), 6.07(d)(2)AR-3, 6.08, 6.09(d)(e)(f)(h), 7.01, 7.03, 7.04(b) Comment, 7.04(d) Note, 7.05(g) Comment-AR, 7.05(i), 7.09(j), 8.05(m)-AR, 10.01(c), 10.06(f) Comment, 10.06(g), 10.09(a)(3), 10.17(e).

(Y) Entitled to Base - Permission to touch a base. Appears in Rules 7.01, 7.03, 7.08(b) Comment.

(N) Occupy - Settle upon or take control of a base. Appears in Rules 7.03, 7.08(b) Comment.

(N) Touch - To physically touch a base. Appears throughout OBR, notably in Rule 7.08(c)-AR.

(N) Acquire Right or Title - Assumes legal right, generally to a base. Appears in Rule 7.01 Comment: "legally acquires title to a base" and 7.08(i).

Accordingly, the statement "R3 is entitled to third only as long as he still occupies it" is true and does not preclude R1's entitlement to third base (both are entitled as long as R3 is not touching third base). Multiple runners may be entitled to a base, but multiple runners may not simultaneously occupy it. Only one runner at a time may acquire title to a base, yet a runner may be in contact with a base without first having acquired legal title (R1 can touch third base without first acquiring legal title). All this means is that by play's end, some runner is not legal, but does not imply which one it is. In this situation, the runner who was not legal was R3 (off his base), not R1 (legally touching a base to which he was entitled). Once acquired, title can be relinquished pursuant to the terms of Rule 7.01.

Replays indicate R1 was never tagged while R3 was in contact with third base; therefore no simultaneous touching of a base occurred, meaning Rule 7.03(a) does not apply.

Therefore, Rules 7.01(entitlement to unoccupied base) and 7.03(b) are not applicable.

Rule 7.08(h) (he passes a preceding runner before such runner is out) does not apply since R1 never passed R3 (passing has to be "in full"; the trail runner must pass the entirety of the lead runner).

Review of this play suggests U3 Iassogna ruled R1 out pursuant to 7.03(a) and R3 due to 7.08(c).
Conclusion: U3's DP call was wrong as Rule 7.03(a) does not apply, though 7.08(c) does. Two out, R1, R3.

One Point Awarded (+1): bwburke94, ClutchUp, hbk314, Joe Gravina, Nate, Russ, UmpAtty