OT: but sports WCWS controversial HR

[TheBigUglies]

https://www.on3.com/her/news/2025-w...mpaign=on3_top_ten&utm_term=On3 National News

I was reading this article and if a kid hits a home run(ball over the wall) and misses home plate accidentally because all her team mates are surrounding it, why can that be challenged? I mean they didn't reverse it, but the ball is an out of the park automatic home runs, does it really matter is she touched home plate or not? Its no longer a live play at that point. There was some loop hole in the rules that says the play is not reviewable any way or is this more the media making something our of nothing. I can see Tenn challenging it because the umps could get it wrong and not count it keeping a run against them off the board but.....looking for the all knowing boards opinions(although I can probably predict some of the answer because it is a woman's sport....)

 

[Erial_Lion]

It can't be challenged because it's not on the list of plays/rulings that are able to be challenged. It's like asking "why can't offensive holding be challenged in football"...it's because it's not a reviewable ruling. They'd need to modify the rulebook to allow it to be challenged.

And yes, it matters if the player touched home plate (or any other base)...not doing so means that the batter can be ruled out on appeal (at every level of baseball/softball).

 

[LionJim]

It can't be challenged because it's not on the list of plays/rulings that are able to be challenged. It's like asking "why can't offensive holding be challenged in football"...it's because it's not a reviewable ruling. They'd need to modify the rulebook to allow it to be challenged.

And yes, it matters if the player touched home plate (or any other base)...not doing so means that the batter can be ruled out on appeal (at every level of baseball/softball).

Watch Bobby Thompson round the bases after his 1951 home run and you’ll see Jackie Robinson watching him like a hawk, making sure that Thompson touched all the bases.

 

[Mufasa94]

Saw this and the girl was looking at her teammates and never looked at the plate as she landed and missed it. No doubt her teammate noticed it and physically assisted her back to touching it.

Umpire had to basically admit they F’d up not noticing at least the assisting part (which was really hard to miss). Whether the plate was touched was an allowable review. I’m guessing the umpires missed that also as if they had noticed it, they would have kept watching until the girl walked away.

Earlier in the game, UCLA had girls on 1st and 2nd with one out. Batter hit a pop up into shallow left and the umpire signaled for the infield fly rule. The SS dropped the ball and girl on 2nd took off for third. The OF picked it up and threw to 3rd beating the runner. That umpire made no signal and the base runner assumed she was out. She rounded 3rd and veared off the baseline a little to the infield side and ran past the plate into the dugout. This made her out.

 

[Midnighter]

Walk off HR to win it shouldn’t matter; game over. I mean - what are the options? Call her out for not tagging home? That’s petty and a cheap way to win. Take the L with dignity and move on.

 

[Reno Hightower]

 

[MtNittany]

...does it really matter if she touched home plate or not? Its no longer a live play at that point.

Nothing matters more.

 

[kgilbert78]

"Nothing really matters to me"....Freddy Mercury

 

[NittPicker]

Walk off HR to win it shouldn’t matter; game over. I mean - what are the options? Call her out for not tagging home? That’s petty and a cheap way to win. Take the L with dignity and move on.

I know what you mean but a runner can only safely advance to a base by touching it. BASEball. I recall an MLB game from a few years ago but can't remember the involved teams. Tie game. Bottom of the ninth. Runners on the corners. Not sure how many outs but I know it was less than two. The batter hits a line single to right field. The runner from third scores. Everyone goes crazy. The runner on first ran to dogpile the batter and never touched second base. The RF fielded the ball and stepped on second base as he was running to the visitor's dugout on the third base side. Since it was a force play, the batter was credited with a fielder's choice RBI instead of a single. If there were two outs, the run wouldn't have counted. Touching a base is a basic tenet of the game. I wouldn't call it a cheap way to win. Her teammates should learn the rules and use better judgement.

Imagine if someone hits an apparent game winning single in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Then he just stands in the batter's box and hugs the apparent game winning runner as he crosses the plate. Every one of his teammates would be screaming for him to run to first base before a defender with the ball touched the bag. The bag needs to be touched to be earned.

 

[LionJim]

I know what you mean but a runner can only safely advance to a base by touching it. BASEball. I recall an MLB game from a few years ago but can't remember the involved teams. Tie game. Bottom of the ninth. Runners on the corners. Not sure how many outs but I know it was less than two. The batter hits a line single to right field. The runner from third scores. Everyone goes crazy. The runner on first ran to dogpile the batter and never touched second base. The RF fielded the ball and stepped on second base as he was running to the visitor's dugout on the third base side. Since it was a force play, the batter was credited with a fielder's choice RBI instead of a single. If there were two outs, the run wouldn't have counted. Touching a base is a basic tenet of the game. I wouldn't call it a cheap way to win. Her teammates should learn the rules and use better judgement.

Imagine if someone hits an apparent game winning single in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Then he just stands in the batter's box and hugs the apparent game winning runner as he crosses the plate. Every one of his teammates would be screaming for him to run to first base before a defender with the ball touched the bag. The bag needs to be touched to be earned.

Good hypothetical.

 

[Midnighter]

I know what you mean but a runner can only safely advance to a base by touching it. BASEball. I recall an MLB game from a few years ago but can't remember the involved teams. Tie game. Bottom of the ninth. Runners on the corners. Not sure how many outs but I know it was less than two. The batter hits a line single to right field. The runner from third scores. Everyone goes crazy. The runner on first ran to dogpile the batter and never touched second base. The RF fielded the ball and stepped on second base as he was running to the visitor's dugout on the third base side. Since it was a force play, the batter was credited with a fielder's choice RBI instead of a single. If there were two outs, the run wouldn't have counted. Touching a base is a basic tenet of the game. I wouldn't call it a cheap way to win. Her teammates should learn the rules and use better judgement.

Imagine if someone hits an apparent game winning single in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Then he just stands in the batter's box and hugs the apparent game winning runner as he crosses the plate. Every one of his teammates would be screaming for him to run to first base before a defender with the ball touched the bag. The bag needs to be touched to be earned.

For me not touching home on a walk off, game winning (out of the park) home run wins the game. No one can tag the batter out. It’s a very dumb technicality that only applies in this specific instance. Hitting a game winning ‘anything’ other than an out of the park HR is not the same since there is a live ball to deal with. Given they can’t be tagged out and a teammate got them to tag home, seems done and done unless there is some time limit for her to touch home base….

 

[Woodpecker]

Watch Bobby Thompson round the bases after his 1951 home run and you’ll see Jackie Robinson watching him like a hawk, making sure that Thompson touched all the bases.

I'm not seeing it

 

[LionJim]

I'm not seeing it

I read it somewhere.

 

[Mufasa94]

Walk off HR to win it shouldn’t matter; game over.

It was only to tie it in the top half of the last inning.

I mean - what are the options? Call her out for not tagging home?

Is it better to reward someone for not following the basic rule of the game?

That’s petty and a cheap way to win.

More like a dumb way to lose. I could list numerous examples from various sports that it could have joined.

Take the L with dignity and move on.

The non-rule following team ended up losing. Feels like justice was served.

 

[Midnighter]

It was only to tie it in the top half of the last inning.

Is it better to reward someone for not following the basic rule of the game?

More like a dumb way to lose. I could list numerous examples from various sports that it could have joined.

The non-rule following team ended up losing. Feels like justice was served.

If top half of last inning then it’s not a walk off and I’m good with whatever they do. Want to kill interest in a sport? Have teams win on technicalities.

 

[CDLionFL]

Pool report from the rules committee after the game:

 

[CDLionFL]

I know what you mean but a runner can only safely advance to a base by touching it. BASEball. I recall an MLB game from a few years ago but can't remember the involved teams. Tie game. Bottom of the ninth. Runners on the corners. Not sure how many outs but I know it was less than two. The batter hits a line single to right field. The runner from third scores. Everyone goes crazy. The runner on first ran to dogpile the batter and never touched second base. The RF fielded the ball and stepped on second base as he was running to the visitor's dugout on the third base side. Since it was a force play, the batter was credited with a fielder's choice RBI instead of a single. If there were two outs, the run wouldn't have counted. Touching a base is a basic tenet of the game. I wouldn't call it a cheap way to win. Her teammates should learn the rules and use better judgement.

Imagine if someone hits an apparent game winning single in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Then he just stands in the batter's box and hugs the apparent game winning runner as he crosses the plate. Every one of his teammates would be screaming for him to run to first base before a defender with the ball touched the bag. The bag needs to be touched to be earned.

Just like if you have a bases loaded walk that ends the game, EVERY runner has to touch the next base (including the batter) before they can join the celebration. Fail to touch and that's deemed 'abandoning the effort to reach the next base' and you're called out. @Midnighter would lose his **** if that happened.

 

[Midnighter]

Just like if you have a bases loaded walk that ends the game, EVERY runner has to touch the next base (including the batter) before they can join the celebration. Fail to touch and that's deemed 'abandoning the effort to reach the next base' and you're called out. @Midnighter would lose his **** if that happened.

Seems a bit much in a sport with zero uniformity in stadium sizes and arbitrary strike zones. But yes, TOUCH THE F*CKING BASE OR DIEEEEE!!!!

 

[Bison13]

Just like if you have a bases loaded walk that ends the game, EVERY runner has to touch the next base (including the batter) before they can join the celebration. Fail to touch and that's deemed 'abandoning the effort to reach the next base' and you're called out. @Midnighter would lose his **** if that happened.

I saw a team lose a state championship in baseball due to this. Same basic situation but it was a hit to CF to score the game winner. The runners on 1st and 2nd never got to the next bag and the defense saw this and got the force at 3rd to force extras where they won the game two innings later.

 

[Connorpozlee]

It was only to tie it in the top half of the last inning.

Is it better to reward someone for not following the basic rule of the game?

More like a dumb way to lose. I could list numerous examples from various sports that it could have joined.

The non-rule following team ended up losing. Feels like justice was served.

I played in a flag football league about 30 years ago. At the end of one game, down by a TD, our QB throws an interception on the last play of the game. Guy runs with it for about 5 steps, then throws it to the ground and celebrates with his teammates. I pick it up and take it to the end zone. Ref tells me it doesn’t count because the game ended when the ball was intercepted. After a long, long discussion we just had to take the loss but it (obviously) still bothers me.

 

[Bison13]

I played in a flag football league about 30 years ago. At the end of one game, down by a TD, our QB throws an interception on the last play of the game. Guy runs with it for about 5 steps, then throws it to the ground and celebrates with his teammates. I pick it up and take it to the end zone. Ref tells me it doesn’t count because the game ended when the ball was intercepted. After a long, long discussion we just had to take the loss but it (obviously) still bothers me.

My guess is that, at least in the FF leagues I've played, that there are no 'fumbles' when the ball hits the ground, the play is dead

 

[TheBigUglies]

My guess is that, at least in the FF leagues I've played, that there are no 'fumbles' when the ball hits the ground, the play is dead

Same here, there were never any fumbles in flag football. Ball hits ground, dead ball.

 

[Connorpozlee]

My guess is that, at least in the FF leagues I've played, that there are no 'fumbles' when the ball hits the ground, the play is dead

Nope, that league played fumbles. Bad idea and saw lots of bloody fumble recovery attempts, but it was allowed.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Nope, that league played fumbles. Bad idea and saw lots of bloody fumble recovery attempts, but it was allowed.

How would you possibly have lots of fumbles in flag football?

 

[NittPicker]

How would you possibly have lots of fumbles in flag football?

 

[LionJim]

You win the internet, for today anyway.

 

[Connorpozlee]

How would you possibly have lots of fumbles in flag football?

Swatting at the ball. I used to swat at the ball with one hand while grabbing for the flag with the other.
“Lots” may be an exaggeration but there were enough to remember.

 

[manatree]

For me not touching home on a walk off, game winning (out of the park) home run wins the game. No one can tag the batter out. It’s a very dumb technicality that only applies in this specific instance. Hitting a game winning ‘anything’ other than an out of the park HR is not the same since there is a live ball to deal with. Given they can’t be tagged out and a teammate got them to tag home, seems done and done unless there is some time limit for her to touch home base….

Hitting the ball over the fence is not what makes it a home run, the batter touching all four bases in order is what makes it a home run. Any run is not a run until home plate is touched.

 

[CDLionFL]

Hitting the ball over the fence is not what makes it a home run, the batter touching all four bases in order is what makes it a home run. Any run is not a run until home plate is touched.

See: Robin Ventura’s grand slam single in the 1999 NLCS.

 

[Midnighter]

Hitting the ball over the fence is not what makes it a home run, the batter touching all four bases in order is what makes it a home run. Any run is not a run until home plate is touched.

She still touched the plate.

 

[Pocono Lion]

Watch Bobby Thompson round the bases after his 1951 home run and you’ll see Jackie Robinson watching him like a hawk, making sure that Thompson touched all the bases.

Same today in MLB, if you notice on a walk off HR, instead of just leaving, the home plate umpire stays to make sure the batter touches home plate amid the chaos.

 

[manatree]

She still touched the plate.

Your are not allowed to assist a player to touch a base. That is where the officials screwed up. But the issue of assisting a player is not a reviewable play. In an ideal world, the home plate ump would have stood their ground until the batter circled the bases so they could see whether or not they touched home plate unassisted.

 

[Erial_Lion]

As an aside...I did a Little League playoff doubleheader last night, and 3 of the 4 teams appeared to have "home run props" ready for a potential home run. MLB teams do these stupid things, and it just trickles down...though nothing is as stupid as the sliding "oven mitts" finding their way to the Little League level (at least 60% of kids are using them, and for no reason at all).

 

[Bison13]

As an aside...I did a Little League playoff doubleheader last night, and 3 of the 4 teams appeared to have "home run props" ready for a potential home run. MLB teams do these stupid things, and it just trickles down...though nothing is as stupid as the sliding "oven mitts" finding their way to the Little League level (at least 60% of kids are using them, and for no reason at all).

I just had a parent contact my athletic director because I do not let them do any kind of celebration stuff like that, have walk up music or those kinds of things. Thankfully, my athletic director told him to go pound sand.

 

[1995PSUGrad]

I have always wondered how the umpire knows if the runner actually touches home plate on those walk off plays when the runner gets mobbed at the plate. There are so many of those situations where you just can't see the plate.

 

[Grant Green]

I have always wondered how the umpire knows if the runner actually touches home plate on those walk off plays when the runner gets mobbed at the plate. There are so many of those situations where you just can't see the plate.

Players typically surround the plate waiting for the hitter to touch the plate before mobbing them. Here are all the walk off so far this season.

 

[LionJim]

As an aside...I did a Little League playoff doubleheader last night, and 3 of the 4 teams appeared to have "home run props" ready for a potential home run. MLB teams do these stupid things, and it just trickles down...though nothing is as stupid as the sliding "oven mitts" finding their way to the Little League level (at least 60% of kids are using them, and for no reason at all).

Same difference: admiring your hit instead of getting your *** up the first base line. Bill James: “Stan Musial always left the batters box at a dead run.” Play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, I beg of you.

 

[Midnighter]

Your are not allowed to assist a player to touch a base. That is where the officials screwed up. But the issue of assisting a player is not a reviewable play. In an ideal world, the home plate ump would have stood their ground until the batter circled the bases so they could see whether or not they touched home plate unassisted.

 

[94LionsFan]

And yes, it matters if the player touched home plate (or any other base)...not doing so means that the batter can be ruled out on appeal (at every level of baseball/softball).

Not every level… USA Softball has a “hit and sit” rule for adult slow pitch. Ball clears the fence, the batter and all runners can go directly to their dugout.

I would have no problem with seeing this implemented at all levels of baseball/softball. At the very least, I would implement it in a walk-off/players are going to mob the batter situation.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Not every level… USA Softball has a “hit and sit” rule for adult slow pitch. Ball clears the fence, the batter and all runners can go directly to their dugout.

I would have no problem with seeing this implemented at all levels of baseball/softball. At the very least, I would implement it in a walk-off/players are going to mob the batter situation.

Sorry, I meant every level of baseball and real softball.




I kid, I kid.