I was in a conversation with an umpire recently and we were discussing the often debated look back rule when a runner rounds first base after a walk and all of the diffferent scenarios that get misinterpreted. He then told me something that I was completely unaware of.
He said that after a walk, the batter-runner is only protected through first base. Obviously, if the batter-runner makes an attempt towards second base then she is liable to be put out. I said "OK, but duh."
However:
He then said that the batter-runner does not even need to "make an attempt towards 2nd" to be liable to be put out after a walk. If she simply passes through 1st base, then she may be put out at that point. This was news to me. I've always assumed there was protection past first base as long as there was not an attempt made to advance. (just like your normal ground ball play where the batter-runner is allowed to run through first.) I realize that a walk is not a dead ball situation like many assume that it is so what he is saying actually makes some sense.
Does anyone have clarification on this? I have never seen this called; further, I've never seen a coach try to make a play on a runner in this situation.
He said that after a walk, the batter-runner is only protected through first base. Obviously, if the batter-runner makes an attempt towards second base then she is liable to be put out. I said "OK, but duh."
However:
He then said that the batter-runner does not even need to "make an attempt towards 2nd" to be liable to be put out after a walk. If she simply passes through 1st base, then she may be put out at that point. This was news to me. I've always assumed there was protection past first base as long as there was not an attempt made to advance. (just like your normal ground ball play where the batter-runner is allowed to run through first.) I realize that a walk is not a dead ball situation like many assume that it is so what he is saying actually makes some sense.
Does anyone have clarification on this? I have never seen this called; further, I've never seen a coach try to make a play on a runner in this situation.