Mechanics

The Double-Bag’s Arrival

by Anthony Mayer

The double first base will be used at Capital One Park this summer for the Potomac College league. It is also being used at South County Middle school and Alabama Drive Park. Expect more locations to make this move within the coming months and years as well. This is a safety rule and one that will reduce contact and collisions at first base.

Interpretation: When using the double first base the following guidelines shall be followed to properly administer the playing rules.

1) A batted ball hitting or bounding over the white portion of the bag is a fair ball. A batted ball hitting or bounding over the colored (orange or green) bag without first touching or bounding over the white section is foul.

2) When an initial play is being made on the batter-runner at first base, the defense must use the white section of the double base and the batter-runner must use the colored base with the following exceptions.

Exception 1—On an uncaught third strike, the fielder and batter-runner may touch either the white or colored base. After an uncaught third strike, if the fielder is drawn to a position in foul territory on the side of the colored base to receive a throw, the batter-runner may touch the white base in order to avoid a collision. Normal running lane restrictions still apply.

Exception 2—When the defense fields a fair batted ball or throws from foul territory near first base to make a play on the batter-runner, or when an errant throw pulls the defense off the white portion of the base into foul ground, the batter-runner may use either portion of the double base and can run the last few steps to the base in fair territory in an effort to avoid a collision. In this situation, normal running lane violation rules do not apply; however, if intentional interference is ruled, the batter-runner would be out. If the intentional interference is deemed to be flagrant, the runner will also be ejected. In this exception, the defense is still required to touch the white base to complete the force play.

3) If there is a play on the batter-runner and the batter-runner clearly touches only the white portion of the double base, it is treated the same as missing the base. If this failure to touch the proper base occurs during a close play and the batter-runner has not passed the base with both feet, the batter-runner should be called out. If the batter-runner clearly beats the throw to first base but misses the base and has both feet on the ground beyond the back edge of the base, the batter-runner would be called out if the defense appeals prior to the batter-runner returning to first base. The proper mechanic is for the umpire to make no call on this play as the batter-runner has not yet touched first base.

4) On extra-base hits or other balls hit to the outfield when there is no chance for a play to be made at the double base or other plays within the infield when there is no initial play made on the batter-runner, the batter-runner may touch either the white or colored section of the base. Should, however, the batter-runner reach and go beyond first base, they may only return to the white section of the base.

5) Once the batter-runner reaches first base, they shall then use only the white base.