Baseball rules corner: advancing runner should be wary when "ball four" is called - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, Sept, 2002 by Rich Marazzi

IN THE YANKEES-MARINERS GAME AT Safeco Field last April 28, the Mariners' Luis Ugeto, on first base, was stealing on a 3-1 pitch to Mark McLemore. The pitch was called "ball four" entitling Ugeto to second base, but the Seattle base runner overslid the bag unaware that McLemore had received a free pass.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter wisely stayed with Ugeto and tagged him while he was off the base. Second base umpire Kerwin Danley seemed confused about the play and made no out sign until Jeter talked to him.

"I knew it was ball four but the runner is entitled to one base," said Jeter. "I just stayed with the play and saw he came off the bag and tagged him. I really didn't think too much about it.

"At first the umpire called him safe. I don't know if he wasn't sure it was ball four. I explained to him (Danley) that the runner couldn't come off the bag since he was entitled to one base."

Seattle skipper Lou Piniella said after the game that Jeter's play was the smartest play he ever saw an infielder make. Ironically, if Jeter had tagged Ugeto before he got to second base, Ugeto would be given the base because McLemore's walk forced him to vacate his base.

However, rule 7.04(b) reads, "A runner forced to advance without liability to be put out may advance past the base to which he is entitled only at his peril." The moment Ugeto reached second base safely and left the bag, he was open game to be put out.

Do you remember the mess involving the Braves' Kenny Lofton in Game 3 of the 1997 National League Championship Series?

In the top of the fourth inning, Lotion was on first and running on a 3-and-2 pitch to Jeff Blauser. "Ball Four" was called, but Lofton, unaware of the call, slid headfirst into second and was called out by second base umpire Eric Gregg.

Lofton got up, shaking his head, and walked off the bag. Alertly, Marlins' second baseman, Craig Counsell, tagged Lofton again and Gregg signaled out. But realizing that they misled Lofton, the men in blue decided that he would remain at second base since Gregg had confused him and he had the right to the base under 7.05(i) which awards the runner one base if the batter becomes a runner on ball four.

Marlins' manager Jim Leyland argued his point with the umps that Lofton should be out. Eventually crew chief Bruce Froemming huddled with N.L. president Leonard Coleman seated in a front row box with Marlins' president Don Smiley.

The umpires decided to allow Lofton to remain at second saying it was an umpire error that caused the confusion. Leyland protested the game which became a moot point since the Marlins won the contest.

Let's review the situation. To begin with, the umpires based their decision on common sense rather than past precedent which has generally placed the onus on members of the offensive team including runners and coaches that such plays become their responsibility to know the entire situation.

Under that thinking, Lofton should have remained on the bag and consulted with one of his coaches before leaving since the pitch to Blauser could have resulted in a walk.

The difference between the Jeter-Ugeto play and the Counsell-Lofton play is that Lofton was called out before he reached second base. From this corner Lofton should have been called out as well since tradition has dictated the responsibility be on the offensive team in such situations.

Regarding the type of play under discussion, it becomes more complicated on 3-and-2 counts when there is a checked swing involved. That could hang up a second base umpire because the plate ump often has to appeal to the first or third base ump which can cause a time delay problem. In the Lofton play, there was no checked swing involved and perhaps Gregg should have realized this.

You might ask, what precedent was set that puts the responsibility on the offensive team regarding 7.04(b)? One such play occurred on July 24, 1979, when the Pirates hosted the Reds.

Pittsburgh had runners on first and third with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Omar Moreno, the batter, had a 3-and-1 count. On the next pitch from Fred Norman, Lee Lacy who was on first, took off for second and was picked off by catcher Johnny Bench with umpire Dick Stello making the out call.

Moreno stood in the batter's box and watched the play along with the 19,517 fans in attendance. Plate ump Dave Pallone called the pitch "ball four" a split second after the ball hit Bench's mitt.

Lacy at this point was entitled to second base without liability of being put out even though he was erased by Bench. But Lacy left the second base area thinking he had been thrown out, unaware that Moreno had walked. When Lacy saw Moreno head toward first, he tried to get back to second base, but Dave Concepcion tagged him for the second time.

An intense rhubarb developed which lasted 34 minutes. Lacy argued that he was misled by Stello when the arbiter pumped him out at second during an apparent steal attempt. Pirates' manager Chuck Tanner was furious.

Charles Feeney wrote in The Sporting News, "Stello said he called the play as a second base unmpire and never spoke to Lacy twice. Stello how, ever told Tanner, `a mistake had been made.'"