Yes, your pitcher had the ball. Yes, your pitcher was well within the eight foot pitching circle -- but -- no, the runner did not have to "immediately attempt to advance to the next base or return to the base the runner is entitled." Why? In my judgment its simple, the pitcher was clearly making an attempt to challenge the runner(s) on base. In my book, the ongoing forward movement of the pitching hand, in the direction of the runners, constitutes an attempted play on the runner. How can I call the runner out?

Let's start with the basics: Play : the batter hits a lazy single to left field and rounds first base. The ball is returned to the pitcher, who is in the circle, while the batter-runner is still in motion. What are the runner's options? When a runner is advancing and the pitcher receives the ball inside the circle, the runner is entitled to pause ONE TIME; the runner then must IMMEDIATELY advance or retreat to the next base and cannot stop or pause again unless the defense initiates a play.

Let's add another base runner and complicate things: Play : with a runner on third base the batter is awarded a base on balls, the catcher immediately throws the ball back to the pitcher. After touching first base the batter-runner takes one step past the bag then places his/her foot on the bag. Is the batter-runner out? Clearly, no. But now this same batter-runner continues to second base, the runner at third is returning to third base after a long lead-off. Suddenly the pitcher feints a throw to second base and immediately R3 breaks for home. Is R3 out for a circle violation? No. Any motion of the pitching arm, with or without the ball, real or feinted signals a play situation for the purposes of the circle rule.

Let's be careful here when dealing with a fake throw: forward motion of the throwing arm is required to determine that a fake throw has occurred; stepping toward a runner is generally NOT considered a play. Exception: some leagues, often at the high school level, consider any body motion a "play." Umpires must check each league's definitions carefully.

Let's look at another play : Runners have advanced on a bunt to first and third and only R1 has rounded the bag. R1 moves clearly towards second base, the pitcher, standing in the circle has received the ball from the catcher, and holding the ball in the glove makes a feint with the throwing hand towards R1 who stops and begins to return. Simultaneous to the feint, R3 leads off, the pitcher now wheels and with the ball in the throwing hand feints to R3 who dives back to the bag. R1 takes off to second base, the pitcher throws wild to second and R3 comes home.

You can guess my opinion and ruling ... continuous play. The pitcher while within the circle continued to challenge the runners, there is no compelling reason for me to rule the runners must either return or advance.

Again, it must be noted that the pitcher is not required to do anything to "attempt to end play." If the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the circle rule is in effect and runners must comply - advance or return immediately - unless play is imminent..

So why have the circle anyway? It does two things that I, as an umpire, appreciate: first, it defines the point at which play will generally come to an end and second, it ultimately creates a point where the runner must have their foot glued to the bag, no jockeying or dancing. In some leagues a team cannot be granted "time" unless that ball has returned to the circle, even without runners on base.

Hope this helps round things up for all ....

Still calling them as I see them,

... written August 11, 1996