[greymule]

ASA does not recognize "first play by an infielder." Example: Abel on 1B stealing on the release. Baker hits a high chopper to F6, who sees that he will have no play on Abel at 2B. After Abel touches 2B, F6 throws the ball away in his attempt to get Baker at 1B.

In ASA, Abel is awarded home and Baker 2B. (Time of throw.)

In OBR, Abel is awarded 3B and Baker 2B. (Time of pitch.)

In the play you describe, I can't remember offhand whether OBR considers F4's catch of the line drive the first play and the throw the second. Of course, on caught line drives, such differentiation is moot. ASA wouldn't differentiate anyway.

ASA awards 2 bases regardless even of whether the runner was in the act of returning to a base he had left too soon.

Example: Abel on 1B, no outs. Baker hits a drive to right-center. Abel rounds 2B as F9 makes a diving catch. As Abel is halfway to 3B, the coach yells to him that the ball was caught. Abel reverses direction and is heading back to 2B in his attempt to get back to 1B when F8 throws the ball over F3 and into DBT.

In ASA, Abel is awarded home—2 bases from where he was when the throw left the fielder's hand.

In OBR, because Abel had initiated a return, his award is 3B—2 bases from the base he was returning to.