When did the umps start NOT to require the 2nd baseman to touch the bag on a double play?

Pharmboy ^ | 4-30-12 | Me

[Pharmboy]

I have noticed this for a LONG time, but I have never asked about it, nor have I ever seen it discussed.

I am watching my Mets against Houston, and the Astros have a man on first. Sharp grounder to third, and Wright backhands it and throws to Murphy at second, and Murphy is AT LEAST 1.5 feet off the bag when he catches it, wheels and throws to first; BUT the ump calls the Astro OUT at second.

When did this start??

[big'ol_freeper]

Without reading the rest of the thread it has been that way since Christ was a corporal (to borrow an Army saying). It is nothing new...has often irritated me too.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

This is the most stupid comment I’ve seen in three quarters of a year.

[Delta Dawn]

dewawi: The Eric Cartman of FreeRepublic.

[Pharmboy]

You make a great point about home: but the catcher is well-armored, unlike the SS or 2nd baseman. After reading the comments, I am convinced that if they did make the middle-infielders touch the bag, they would go through 10 of them every season. The ‘in the vicinity’ rule makes sense.

[dewawi]

AGAIN, I am paying 40% of my income in taxes and people that can’t seem to get over watching ADULTS play a children’s game for MILLIONS OF DOLLARS expect ME to pay even MORE in taxes to help them build STADIUMS for them to ooh and ahh their baseball warrior heroes....

Now they (people that like to watch adults play children’s games for millions) want us to pay for a football stadium despite the fact that probably once a week a professional football player in this state is charged with some violent felony.

[Kirkwood]

You are very confused about children’s games. Sporting games (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, etc) all originated as adult recreation and remain so today. It is also big business. Hopscotch and marbles are children’s games.

[freedumb2003]

Don’t you ever forget that your signup date determines the level of your intelligence to the self described weisenheimers here!

dewawi :\ de-WAAAAAAHH-wee \ , noun;

1. The sound made by a little baby when its rattle is taken away:

DEWAWI!! DEWAWI!!! MOMMY!! DEWAWI!!!

[sjm_888]

[Ransomed]

I rememer Mike S. of the Angels getting steamed about it in a play-off game I think, but not that it was called wrong, but called correctly for once. I think they have been calling them closer in the play-off games recently. They have a million camera angles on them now, and almost instant slo-mo. I think the umps don’t want to be called on it and it costs a game in a playoff situation, at least less than they used to do. They should also call interference more on that play if they are going to require the defender to hang in there.

I’m more concerned about the lack of the high strike on batters that don’t crouch to swing and lower their ‘zone.

Freegards

[healy61]

You’re pushing your luck. You keep saying “stadiums.” It should be “stadia.”

[hirn_man]

About the same time that they allowed a runner to slide 3 feet away from the bag to break up the double play and not call interfence I think.

[Delta Dawn]

You’re my kind of ballplayer. You can play on my team any day.

[freedumb2003]

>> I think off-sides and letting the clock run is stupid; <<

Watch how the Europeans play it — theoretically offsides starts when the ball is kicked. But in reality, when they are beaten, the Euros run TO the ball to force offsides.

And of course, they should give more Oscars to soccer players than on any year in Hollywood. If they get touched they act like they have been knifed in a back alley.

My wife is from Mexico so we agreed I will watch the World cup and I won’t make too much fun of her while she watches games from home. If I have to watch, I make it a point to learn the rules and strategies. Speaking of which, try watching and trying to understand Cricket sometime. Man, how the English ruled the world while playing that game is amazing...

PS: Mexico plays US Style Football, and pretty good, too (wife’s brother was a linebacker). There has been talk of a Mexico team in the NFL.

[freedumb2003]

>>AGAIN, I am paying 40% of my income in taxes and people that can’t seem to get over watching ADULTS play a children’s game <<

Move.

You can start by moving from this board.

[jwalsh07]

Been ongoing for decades, the slicker the ss or 2b rep the farther away from the bag he gets to be.

[Artaniss]

It’s called the “neighborhood play”. It’s not in the official MLB rule book though. There are references to it on the internet. You could look it up.

[Eastbound]

"I respect hockey players who get ten stitches and go out for their next shift."

Of course there are exceptions. Take Ty Cobb, fer instance. He would practice stealing bases even though he already had 12 stitches for leg damages received that morning from sliding practice. Really, no duh!

[Theoria]

Yeah, but he pitcher also covers home plate sometimes. Let's say a wild pitch, pitcher runs to cover home, player running in from 3rd, boom. That should be how the game is played.

[mortal19440]

It has been called the Neighborhood play since I started playing ball in the 50’s.

[Vermont Lt]

Have you seen the size of some of these guys? Really, they would be carrying the little shortstops off the field by the dozens.