Offense Helping on a Home Run?


 
1. With two out and the bases loaded, the batter (B1) hits an over-the-fence grand slam. B1's teammates can hardly contain themselves. Most of B1's teammates line up to meet B1 after he will touch home plate. However, about 10 feet before home plate, a couple teammates slow B1 down with high-fives, low-fives, and back slaps. The defensive coach wants an out and cites rule 3-2-2 which addresses assisting a runner (ART 2.: No coach shall physically assist a runner during playing action. PENALTY: The ball is dead at the end of playing action. The involved batter-runner or runner is out and any additional outs made on the play stand. Runners not put out return to bases occupied at the time of the infraction). What does the home plate umpire do?
 
Call
A ball that is batted over the fence in fair territory is a dead ball and a 4-base award (most call it a home run).
 
Since the ball is dead and the teammates/coach did not attempt to correct an appealable base running error, then there is no call. The runs count.
 
NF Casebook situation 3.2.2A (page 28) addresses this.

2. Similar to #1 above, as B1 rounds 3rd base on the over-the-fence grand slam, B1 trips over third base and falls down. The 3rd base coach rushes over, picks him up, dusts him off, and B1 heads to home plate. The defensive coach is sure that this should an out?
 
Call
A ball that is batted over the fence in fair territory is a dead ball and a 4-base award (most call it a home run).
 
Since the ball is dead and the teammates/coach did not attempt to correct an appealable base running error, then there is no call. The runs count.
 
NF Casebook situation 3.2.2A (page 28) addresses this.

This is the same call as in #1.