missed bag

Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Two outs, runners on 2nd an 3rd. Our batter (B5?) hits a double to the fence in left center. She stumbles over the bag rounding first because of first baseman standing on the bag but gets to second easily with no play and both runners score and it's a close game. Plate umpire (2 umpires) calls time and rules B5 out for missing first base. Inning over, no runs scored. Our coach argues with umpire and is ejected, game over we lose. Can you straighten out this mess and let me know what should have happened?
-----Answer-----
Good morning Jim,

This is one tough, tough call.  If this (as you said) is a 2 umpire system the base umpire is responsible for the touch at 1st base, not the plate umpire.  It is up to the base umpire to make the decision and the call. I assume what you meant was the plate umpire called time and conferred or asked his base umpire what (s)he had after the defense appealed missing the base.

As a side note with runner's coming home I don't think the plate umpire would have any clue about the b-r touching 1st base.  The plate umpire should have been on the 3rd base side of the plate roaming toward 3rd some and about 70-80' from 1st base watching the runner(s) touch home.  From your info I'm not sure who had the call but if the plate umpire had it I would be real upset also, there's no way they could know.

Some 1st basemen have a terrible habit of roaming toward or standing on 1st base on clean hits to the outfield.  When they do they can impede the b-r and cause obstruction.  From your description as a base umpire I would have obstruction of the b-r.  But by rule an obstructed runner must touch all bases in legal order.  So the fact they were obstructed does not relieve them of touching the base and they can be called out on appeal by the defense.

So here's what we have by my knowledge and experience....

Under ASA the defense must appeal not touching the base, an umpire cannot do it w/out that.

The base umpire is the only one who has a clue about the b-r touching 1st base and is the one to make that call.

Before I were to make that call (as the base umpire) I would have to be 110% absolutely, positively sure that no part of the b-r touched any part of the base.  IF I were the slighest bit out of position, angle or spacing I personally would not "guess" that call.

I know someone standing on the bag is a problem, make sure your people (runners and coaches) know they have a right to the base and can get obstruction but the runner must touch the base to be protected. Have them dance with the 1st baseman if they have to.

Mark

So if I am understanding this correctly, since the defense never appealed or questioned the play, the play should have stood. B5 safe at second, two runners scored and all is right with the world. Is that a correct interpretation? By the way, B5 was forced to change her "banana route" to first base at the last second by the first baseman who ran to the bag causing her to hit the bag on the outside edge which was her reason for stumbling. She stumbled ON the bag. Oh well. I didn't really need all this hair on my head anyhow.  

Answer
Hi Jim,

If you are playing under strict ASA rules missing a base is an appeal play by the defense.  As in a b-r running through 1st w/out touching the base BEFORE the ball arrives, by rule the the b-r is considered to have touched the base unless an appeal is made.  If you play by these rules "all is right with the world" and an immediate protest should be made against the ruling as a mis-application of the playing rules. (It's too late now)

Obviously if you play by other rules including local exceptions to ASA an umpire might have the authority to call it w/out a defensive appeal.

Obstruction is not really the issue here, though by your info I have it and it's part of what happened at 1st.  As a base umpire I have to notice "something" happened at 1st that caused the b-r to stumble.

Let's face it, most b-rs that trip or stumble running through or around 1st due so because of their contact with the bag. It's a fairly common occurrence in softball.  Trying to avoid a defensive player throws off the footwork and in my experience increases the odds of tripping or stumbling over the bag.

I can only tell you that I and almost all senior, experienced umpires I've worked with would never, ever, never "guess" this b-r or any other runner out. It's not a might have or may have or even a probably did miss the bag. I have to have in my own vision and judgement solid proof that they missed the bag.

I did't see the play and it's possible the umpire firmly believes they didn't see a touch at 1st.  I'm just telling you the steps necessary (under strict ASA) and the logic I use to get there.

Mark