Tie Goes to the Runner?

[sixofdiamonds]

It's interesting to note there are different sets of baseball rules that govern the age-old adage that a tie goes to the runner. There is only one rule that governs this in softball.

Baseball

Rule 7.01 - A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out.

In this rule it is clear that the runner must touch the base before the fielder. In a tie situation, the runner is out because he did not touch the base before the fielder.

Rule 6.05 (j) - A batter 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.

This rule contradicts Rule 7.01 because it states the fielder must tag the runner or first base BEFORE the runner gets to the base. In this instance a tie would go to the runner because the fielder did not touch the base BEFORE the runner.

Rule 7.09 (e) - The runner is out when he fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags him or the base.

This rule agrees with Rule 7.01.

Softball

All rules for ASA, NCAA, NFHS and USSSA pertaining to this situation use the same wording. The rule references are in the order of ASA, NCAA, NFHS, USSSA for each point:

A batter/runner is out when put out prior to reaching first base (8-2B, 12.4.1, 8-2-2, 8-17D). A runner on a force play is out if a fielder contacts the base or tags the runner before the runner reaches the base (8-7C, 12.9.1.1, 8-6-3, 8-18M).

So in softball, the tie actually goes to the runner when a fielder fails to touch the runner or the base BEFORE the runner gets to the base.

In the play depicted on Facebook, the distance of the runner's foot from the bag and the distance of the ball to the fielder's glove look to be the same. A thrown ball travels faster than a runner so in my humble opinion the batter/runner is out. Then again I could be wrong. LOL

[sixofdiamonds]

For the record, the call on the field was OUT!