Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site loral.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!loral!sdi From: sdi@loral.UUCP (Steve Irwin) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Softball Rule Interpretation Message-ID: <178@loral.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Jun-84 18:26:09 EDT Article-I.D.: loral.178 Posted: Thu Jun 7 18:26:09 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Jun-84 00:49:28 EDT References: <128@pthya.UUCP> Organization: Loral Instruments, San Diego Lines: 18 The Softball Rule is such that when the ball crosses the plate the ball is in play - period. A baserunner cannot lead off at all. Leading off is coming off the bag prior to the pitch. A runner is simply "coming off" the bag when the ball crosses the plate and can do whatever he wants. The reason there is a catcher there is to catch the ball and the keep the ball in play at all times. I would have to agree with you and say that the catcher has the right to try to pick off the runner at first but in doing so creates the chance for the runner on third to score. When the ball crossed the plate to begin with the ball is in play and that is all there is to it. If someone in the league had a rule book you could probably find this phrase somewhere. "Mr. Rules"