July 14, 2024

Failed Execution of a “Time Play” Proves Costly to the Yankees

Rules played an important part in determining the outcome of the game

Failed Execution of a “Time Play” Proves Costly to the Yankees

The Red Sox and Yankees played in New York on July 5, 2024. In the bottom of the third with the Yankees winning 3-1, the Yanks had Anthony Volpe on third and DJ LeMahieu on first and one out when Ben Rice hit a sharp ground ball to Sox first baseman Romy González who stepped on first to retire Rice which removed the force. González then threw to shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela who attempted to tag LeMahieu who was headed to second. But LeMahieu was called out for the third out for running out of the baseline when he ran wide of the tag attempt after the force was removed. 

Meanwhile Volpe slowed down before he got to the plate and looked back. Because LeMahieu’s out was the third out of the inning and was not a force out, and it occurred before Volpe crossed the plate, plate umpire Roberto Ortiz waved off the run. Instead of the Yankees leading 4-1, the inning ended with the Yanks leading 3-1.

Boston scored two runs in the ninth after two outs and two in the tenth to win, 5-3.

Ruleball Comments

The inning ended in what umpires refer to as a “Time Play.”

If the inning ends in a force out, or the batter-runner makes the third out before touching first base, or a preceding runner is out because he failed to touch one of the bases, no run can score per rule 5.08 (a).

The “Time Play” reference is a race against “Time.” What occurs first: the third out of the trail runner (LeMahieu) who was not forced or the lead runner (Volpe) crossing the plate? Because LeMahieu was called out before Volpe crossed the plate, Volpe’s run was erased.

In the above play the force was removed when González stepped on first after fielding Rice’s ground ball.

Volpe should have RUN THROUGH THE PLATE without looking back. The lead runner in such situations must be in a rush to get to the plate. Volpe said he thought the ball was foul but admitted he must do better. In such a situation the lead runner should run hard through the plate and ask questions later.

Although Volpe shoulders the brunt of the blame, LeMahieu bears responsibility as well. He should have gotten into an extended rundown instead of running into a tag and avoiding the tag horizontally which violated the restricted 3-foot baseline rule.  He could have back pedaled, changed direction, or fallen to the ground. The runner only has a restricted baseline when he is avoiding a tag or is in a rundown. Those strategies would have bought more time for Volpe who never should have put himself in the position he did.

The moment LeMahieu was called out for running out the baseline for the third out, the inning ended.

Did the base coaches prepare the runners of a possible “Time Play” situation before Rice stepped to the plate? If not, perhaps they should do so in the future.

One might argue that González, the Red Sox first baseman, should have attempted the 3-6-3 DP to keep the force alive. It appeared the ball was hit hard enough that Rice would have been doubled-up. But since González was so close to the base, it was inviting to tag the base before throwing. But in the grand scheme of things, he might have been better to keep the force alive. The other option would have been to throw home and make a play on Volpe after stepping on the 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. 

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