The Cubs and Marlins played at loanDepot Park on August 25, 2024. In the bottom of the eighth, Jesús Sánchez was intentionally walked by Cubs pitcher Julian Merriweather. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker decided to pinch-run for Sánchez  with Cristian Pache. Sanchez trotted toward first base but never touched the base when he became aware that he was being pinch-run for.

Because Sánchez never touched first base, Cubs manager Craig Counsell then went to the mound to apparently review the appeal process with Merriweather in case there was a rules violation. Counsell said after the game, “I didn’t know the rule.”

Merriweather made the appeal throw to first base, but the first base umpire had no call. The umps then huddled and called Pache out because of Sánchez’s failure to touch first base.   

Ruleball Comments

1. Rule 5.05 (b) (1) states, “A batter who is entitled to first base because of a base on balls, including an award of first base to a batter by an umpire following a signal from a manager, must go to first base and touch the base before other base runners are forced to advance. This applies when the bases are full and applies when a substitute runner is put into the game.” When a manager orders an intentional walk, the ball is dead.

2. Rule 5.10 (a) reads, “A player, or players, may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead.” 

3. So, does rule 5.10 (a) conflict with rule 5.05 (b) (1)? Should there have been an out recorded in the above situation? Former umpire Jim Evans, who ran the Jim Evans umpire school for many years, says no.  “When on the field, I always prioritized the rule that a substitution could be made anytime the ball was dead and it was the umpire’s responsibility to call time when the manager wanted to make one,” said Evans. “Managers do not generally request time when wanting to make a substitution. They routinely get the umpire’s attention and point to the player being removed and the player replacing him. It is then the umpire’s responsibility to signal time, make the change on his lineup card, and notify the official scorer. Since the umpire has called time for the substitution, I would allow it even though the batter did not touch first base. Time was out because of the automatic intentional BB. The offensive manager gained no advantage by making this substitution.

“There are times when the umpire must be very strict and require the batter to touch first base e.g. game-ending situations. If this game were protested, I would rule in favor of the offensive team and then order the Rules Committee to clarify the conflicting rules. Unfortunately, there no longer are protests. “

4. In my opinion, 5.05 (b) (1) has more teeth in the language of the rule to cover the situation, but as Evans said, the Marlins gained no advantage because Sánchez did not touch first base. The rule needs to be revisited and clarified because two rules (5.05 (b) (1) and 5.10 (a) are in conflict here. Evans’ comments make sense and common sense should prevail.

5. I’m sure that Marlins first base coach Jon Jay might be questioned why he did not direct Sánchez to touch first base, but because this is an extremely rare situation and a rule that is rarely invoked and is conflicted, Jay does not deserve criticism.

6. I have been tracking rules for 53 years and it’s the first time I ever came across this situation.

7.  There are other areas in the OBR that supports 5.10 (a). If a runner is  incapacitated, rule 5.12 (b) (3) (A), allows for a substitute runner if the ball is in dead ball territory such as a book rule double or a home run. The substitution can be made where the injured player is on the base path. Again, the offensive team does not gain an advantage.

8. On Sept 14, 2005, the Blue Jays hosted the Red Sox. With Gabe Kapler on first base, Tony Graffanino hit a home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth inning off Josh Towers. Running from first to third, Kapler ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon rounding second base and was incapacitated in the shortstop area.  If Graffanino passed Kapler, he would have been called out for passing the runner.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona substituted Alejandro Machado to pinch-run for Kapler who was carted off the field. Machado assumed Kapler’s position and circled third base and scored while Graffanino trailed behind him. Graffanino got credit for the home run and Machado was credited with a run scored. Machado scored four runs in his 10-game cup of coffee career.  He collected his first run pinch-running for Kapler. He is most likely the only player in MLB history to score his first run in that fashion.

9. Managers should use rule 5.12 (b) (3) (A) more often. Rather than risk further injury to a player, the manager should simply call “Time” while the ball is dead and put in a substitute runner. I call this “Baseball’s Affordable Health Care Act.” It’s very cheap and only costs a harmless time out while the ball is in dead ball territory.

10. If a batter is hit by a pitch or injured before reaching first base for some reason and the ball is dead, the batter is not required to touch first base if he is removed from the game. A substitute can be used in that situation.  So, why can’t a substitute be used for a runner who is given an intentional walk by the opposing manager which creates a dead ball situation? That would seem to be in line with today’s pace of game rules.

11. In conclusion, although rule 5.05 (b) (1) has stronger language to call Pache out because Sánchez failed to touch first base, it is inconsistent with other areas of the Official Baseball Rules. The situation needs clarification.

So, for now if a manager orders an intentional walk of an opposing batter, the batter-runner should touch first base.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst:  Angels, D’backs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and NBC Sports Chicago.