Runner overslides 2B trying to break up...

[Majordave]

a DP. NCAA, Big Ten game, 3 man crew, I was watching yesterday. Game ending DP with R1 sliding hard to break up DP at 2B. R1 overslides the bag, makes slight contact with F6 after F6's release of throw to F3. Umpire in C raises his hands up in air three times almost like a field goal and touches his shoulders after he has already signaled out with a hammer for the first play of the DP. Umpire at 1B signals out for the DP without looking or seeing the play at 2B or the other base umpire's arm waving. My question for those who might know: The umpire at 2B, his signal was what? I assume an "I've got something here" to plate umpire? That's the only thing I can think of but I had never seen that type of arm wave/signal before. We do something similar to signal we have the fly ball catch or no catch in the outfield while in B or C but this was new to me.

[mazzamouth]

Dave, not sure what kind of mechanic that was.. but you should have or was calling interfernce..

But the way your describing the play sounds like the runner shouldn't have been called out for this.. if he made slight contact after the bag, the NCAA rule only protect the fielder.

NCAA Rule 8section 4a. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground before the
base and in a direct line between the two bases. It is permissible for
the slider’s momentum to carry him through the base in the baseline
extended.

So I wonder what he might have called?...

[Majordave]

call anything. Since the other base umpire had an out at first anyway. It looked like there was contact with the shortstop by R1 oversliding second. It was about a foot or two past the bag when contact occurred. Shortstop was jostled but caught himself on all fours when he went down. I am guessing that was their mechanic to signal that "I've got something here." Just wondering if anyone else had seen that mechanic. My association uses it to signal the base guy has the catch/no-catch on a fly to the outfield.

[bigcityp]

I had this in a HS JV game last night. Bases loaded and 1 out. Ball hit 2nd who flips to SS who tags 2nd and then throws to first but was late. The HC comes out yelling that the kid over slid 2nd and it should be a double play. I'm the BU so I call time and get together with the PU. I tell him that I have an out at second on the force and that I pivoted to see the play at first. I asked him if he hand anything at second. He tells me that he was watching the runner going to 3rd for any obstruction there and didn't see anything as well. When I told the HC what we had, he wasn't upset with us but with the other HC who he played with in college.

My question is was what is the PU coverage responsibility in this type of situation? I know when only one on it wouldn't have been a problem but with the bases loaded we don't have enough eyes to see everything.

[bobjenkins]

My question is was what is the PU coverage responsibility in this type of situation? I know when only one on it wouldn't have been a problem but with the bases loaded we don't have enough eyes to see everything.

PU has *both* calls, and depending on what is happening, he needs to prioritize. It's the limitation of the 2-umpire system. (That's why Lance recommends the 17-umpire system.)

Generally, if I see a slide that's legal until the ball is away (that is, R1 is on the ground, into the bag), I start looking for something else. If it looks like R1 might be doing something illegal (a late slide, or the start of a turn, or hands up, ...) then I stay with the play at second.

Besides, merely sliding beyond the base isn't a violation.