Quote:
Originally posted by Gre144
Today,I had the following situation. R1 runs to second base on a high ground ball hit to F4. R1 does not slide into second and runs into F6 on the force play at second. I called interference on R1 and only one out since it was not likely that that the interference prevented a double play. The coach came out of the dugout and said that R1 must slide and therefore it is an automatic two outs. As I understand it in FED, the runner never has to slide but if he chooses to do so, the slide must be legal. If it is an illegal slide then the force-slide play is in affect(with first base occupied) and the umpire calls two outs.
My question is the following
1)Is the above situation a force slide play and two outs to be called or just interference and the outs to be determined by the umpire.
2) Or should I have called nothing since R1 was out on the force at second inspite of the interference and he, in my opinion, did not prevent a double play.
Fed rules please.
Greg
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I no longer do FED ball so I won't attest to the accuracy of my opinion. But, I would caution that any rules involving the excpectation that the runner, may slide, as an option, should never be referred to as a
MUST SLIDE Rule. Players should be advised as to how they should
AVOID CONTACT . We live in a day and age when litigation abounds. We should avoid recommending any particular course of action for any potential runners less he/she breaks a leg and says "The umpire said we had to slide."
As to the FED rule, which sometimes is referred to as a
must slide situation, I think that it is a dead ball and if less than two-out you call runner and batter out regardless of whether the fielder is in the act of completing the double-play and regardless of whether or not he had a chance on the batter-runner.
If R1 was run into by the shortstop well in front of the base you may not have interference just stupid base-running or perhaps bad fielding mechanics. If it is FED and you had R1 interference I believe you should have called the Batter out as well. Jim Simms/NYC