Stealing on ball 3 play

[ZupCoach]

Saw this last week at Fresno and can't find a ruling in the book.

runner on 1st

pitcher throws ball 3 to the batter who suddenly throws down her bat and sprints to
1st while the runner at 1st (who appeared to be a slow runner) steals second. The coaches
and catcher seem confused and are late on the throw to second. The ump calls the girl back
from 1st to finish the at bat (she pretends she thought it was ball 4) but the steal stands.

Is this a called play?

The defensive team argued but the steal stood. The batter then strokes a line drive to right and the runner at second scores.

Should the steal have been allowed?

[umpinva]

Saw this last week at Fresno and can't find a ruling in the book.

runner on 1st

pitcher throws ball 3 to the batter who suddenly throws down her bat and sprints to
1st while the runner at 1st (who appeared to be a slow runner) steals second. The coaches
and catcher seem confused and are late on the throw to second. The ump calls the girl back
from 1st to finish the at bat (she pretends she thought it was ball 4) but the steal stands.

Is this a called play?

The defensive team argued but the steal stood. The batter then strokes a line drive to right and the runner at second scores.

Should the steal have been allowed?

Yes, the defense should be aware of the game situation. Had R1 been put out at second, the out would stand and the batter would return to bat with the correct count.

If the umpire judged the advance to first by the batter was to intentionally confuse the defense, interference would be called. Dead ball, the batter is out, and R1 would return to first base.

[3Bsnag]

I personally witnessed that play twice last fall and already once this spring. It usually involves R1 at 3rd, running safely home, as batter runner runs passed 1st attempting 2nd. There are conferences, but in these 3 instances, R1 was always safe and batter returned to finish the at-bat.

[SSdad]

I have heard of the same play, but a different twist, usually 1st and 3rd. Batter actually draws a walk and girl on 3rd just trots home like the bases were loaded. Takes some cajones to try....but if it works shame on the defense.

[wadeintothem]

I know I've seen this year but cant remember if it was a Fresno.

Play stands.

[Martin]

Whenever I see this play or any of its varients (I saw an entire team leave the field after the 2nd out. F3 tagged out R1 when she came off the bag in the confusion), I wonder how long it took the coach to practice this play and what other skills could have been taught that would actually improve the players on his/her team.

[2bucketdad]

how about a runner on 3rd, my team gets the second out I call them off the field like 3 outs my daughter who was in the circle brings the ball with her in her glove, and when the runner attempts to trot home she is tagged out for the third out...only did it once and it was just used as a FU play, agianst a coach that deserved it...but boy did it stir the pot!

[Cannonball]

We did the play tonight although unintentional. Situation, Ball 2 on hitter and runners on 1st and 2nd. Ump signals Ball 3 but in doing so, he points to ump for appeal on check. Our hitter thought he signaled ball 4 and so took off. She's the kind of hitter that sprints everywhere and so, not out of character. Our runners then took off for 3rd and 2nd. Both are safe. Then ump made them go back and said the ball was dead on his appeal of the check swing. I smell a rat in this one! Our coach argued that had the throw been made and tag applied, runners would have been called out. To no avail. Both runners told to go back. Note, this is in the state playoffs and so, these umps had to earn the position of umpiring these games.

[dallasfungo]

This play was discussed at the NFCA convention a couple of years ago. I think it was Mike Candrea, but don't hold me to that. If I recall correctly, he relayed this as one of those 1-2 times per year plays that you pull out in the 4th or 5th inning when a pitcher is struggling. There's a sign for batter and runners with supporting chatter from the dugout. It's done with 2 runners on base so all just trot down at the same time, creating lots of "routine" movement. By the time the defense realizes what's happened, you've executed an uncontested double steal. The suggestion was made that it could be done with bases loaded by those not faint of heart.

[TexBlue1]

We did the play tonight although unintentional. Situation, Ball 2 on hitter and runners on 1st and 2nd. Ump signals Ball 3 but in doing so, he points to ump for appeal on check. Our hitter thought he signaled ball 4 and so took off. She's the kind of hitter that sprints everywhere and so, not out of character. Our runners then took off for 3rd and 2nd. Both are safe. Then ump made them go back and said the ball was dead on his appeal of the check swing. I smell a rat in this one! Our coach argued that had the throw been made and tag applied, runners would have been called out. To no avail. Both runners told to go back. Note, this is in the state playoffs and so, these umps had to earn the position of umpiring these games.

No rat here. Good call blue. Anytime an umpire is consulting with partner, time is out.