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Don,
It's not that I disagree with your reasoning, but that I do not agree that your interpretation is possible with the ASA rule as written. The way you have posed the question has the runner arriving "just before the ball arrives" means you would be able to sell the call of "out" using your ruling. Just don't explain what you really called, or you may have a protest filed.
However, what if the play is not that close? F3 is still stretching for the ball & can't see where the BR's foot hits, but everyone else clearly sees the BR is ahead of the throw.
It's not that this is an ambiguous rule in ASA...
ASA 8-2. BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT. M. If, when using the double-base, and there is a play on the batter-runner, the batter-runner touches only the white portion and the defense appeals prior to the batter-runner returning to first base. This is treated the same as missing the base.
Clearly written with no option given (assuming the listed exceptions are not in force), so if you call an ASA game your way, you are making up your own rule in the interest of what you consider "fair." We are not supposed to call the game as we see fairness, but as the rules define the game.
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