out or safe?

Question
"men on first and second.....one out...groundball to
third...ball bobbled into foul territory...thirdbaseman picks
it up in plenty of time to make the force at third...with ball in
glove he touches third with his empty hand and then steps across third
without stepping on it".......WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THIS CALL FOR ME?  IS THE RUNNER OUT OR SAFE????


Answer
Hi Pete,

sure...the runner would be out.  The rule on a force out only requires that the defense have control of the ball and contact with the base.  There is no requirement that contact be a certain body part such as a foot.

I've seen defenders literally roll with their body over a base for an out (tripped, fell and just kept rolling) and FP umpires "semi-joke" that if the defender has the ball, trips and falls and her ponytail touches the base, we have an out.  Yes we would.

Mark

Hi Pete,

I did find your 1st question somewhat rude and demanding by the CAPS at the end.  If I misunderstood, I apologize but that's the way I saw it at the time.  A "3" is ok for P (that's the way you see it) but I am wondering why an "8" for C?  I told you the runner is out and why they would be out and even gave you some extra more unusual plays where they would be out.

BTW I knew Coach BO fairly well from the Millie S Foundation...(heard many stories about Woody direct from him) I'll let you buy me a drink after we beat OSU at the "Big House" this year.

Mark