Baseball Toaster: The Griddle : It was a nice gesture, but you didn't need to

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It was a nice gesture, but you didn't need to

2008-04-29 21:33

by Bob Timmermann

George Vescey of the New York Times (after Graham Hays of ESPN.com ran the story) picked up on the story of Sara Tucholsky, a softball player for Western Oregon, who hit a 3-run homer against Central Washington last Saturday. Tucholsky tripped going over first base and hurt her knee, which left her unable to complete the circuit of the bases.

The umpires at the game ruled that Western Oregon couldn't put in a pinch runner for Tucholsky and that the runners on base could score, but Tucholsky would only be credited with a single. Two Central Washington players, Liz Wallace and Mallory Holtman, offered to carry Tucholsky around the bases so she could be credited with her home run. And they did.

The efforts by the Central Washington players are certainly worthy of praise, but ultimately, the umpires messed up the call. According to the copy of the 2008 NCAA Softball rules,

Rule 8.5.3.2 If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from
proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and substitution may
be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed
bases not previously touched.

This is similar to the rule that exists in baseball where a player injured while running out a home run can be pinch run for.

Comments

2008-04-29 23:01:40

1. Xeifrank

Bob, question for you. What if in softball/baseball there were no more players left on the bench, they had all been used previously in the game or were already in the game. aka - there was nobody left that could pinch run. Then what would happen?
vr, Xei

2008-04-29 23:23:59

2. Bob Timmermann

If you run out of players, you have to forfeit.

2008-04-30 00:07:48

3. Bob Hendley

I guess that's why its called softball.

2008-04-30 02:08:52

4. Eric Enders

So then what if you're out of players and you simply choose not to put in a pinch runner for the injured player?

2008-04-30 06:56:37

5. Bob Timmermann

Presumably runners on base would be allowed to score. Then the injured player would probably try to crawl around the bases.

2008-04-30 07:21:22

6. Cliff Corcoran

Ah yes, that rule came into play for Gabe Kapler a couple of years ago, didn't it? I seem to recall Tony Graffanino being involved somehow.

2008-04-30 07:31:21

7. bobsbrother

What would be the official scoring ruling on that? If Kirk Gibson had been unable to round the bases after his home run and a pinch runner done the honors, does the pinch runner get credited for the run scored? Would Gibson have gotten just one total base? Does he technically just single?

2008-04-30 07:38:46

8. Bob Timmermann

In the case of Gabe Kapler, he was already on base when Graffanino hit the homer. A pinch runner came in and got credit for the run scored. If the batter-runner got hurt, he would get as many bases as he touched with a default of at least a single because the total bases would all be wonky.

2008-04-30 08:37:20

9. Bob Hendley

5 - Assuming that the injury was not career threatening or anything like that, I think I would pay to see someone crawl around the bases after hitting one out. Added excitement would be the pitcher being allowed to kick you and step on your hands along the way.

2008-04-30 10:10:29

10. dianagramr

Somehow this brought me back to this event:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nykesha_Sales

"Sales left college as UConn's all-time leading scorer with 2,178 career points. She scored the record-breaking points as part of a staged controversial layup. Sales had suffered an injury that had essentially ended her collegiate career. UConn's next game (against Villanova University) began with Villanova permitting Sales to complete an uncontested layup. (UConn then returned the favor, allowing Villanova to score. The game essentially began with a 2-2 score before serious play commenced.)"

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