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Interesting thread with very valid arguments on both sides. Let me add some some clarification if I may.
From original sitch:
Bases Loaded. Ball 4 to batter. R3 comes in, but misses home plate by about two feet, fair territory, continuing on towards his 1st base dugout. Starts high-fiving teammates, etc. Does not get all the way to the dugout.
Def coach notices this, and calls for the pitcher to throw the ball back to the catcher. Pitcher was standing in front of the mound. F1 throws to F2, who now steps on the plate, just ahead of the now conscious R3. R3 only tried to return to touch home, when alerted to the fact he missed home.
Form the picture in your mind's eye. He passes and misses home plate and head towards 1st base dugout. This is where his natural momentum is taking him. In my experience as well as everyone else's, offensive players will come out of dugout towards home plate to high five player who is scoring on a bases loaded walk or home run. So he probably is not very far removed from plate area. Then the Def coach alerts him to the fact that an appeal play is emminent and tries to return...IMO a short distance...
as catcher is tagging the plate, "just ahead of the now conscious R3". In this case I would agree with the Off coach. A tag should have been made.
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