Quote:
Originally posted by illiniwek8
Ok..situation is runners on 1st and 3rd.....runner on 1st takes of to get into rundown pitcher steps off......and throws to second baseman the runner on 1st backs up straight towards the outfield, actually he goes back to the grass (out of the baseline in my opinion to avoid being played on). The officials who called the play did not call this runner out because they said he was establishing a baseline. Is this right? I say he is out for being out of the baseline once a play is made on him.
now.......how bout this.........
same situation....the runner on 1st takes his lead and goes directly toward the outfield, in fact, this same official says he can go all the way to the outfield fence if he so wishes to get into a rundown...then...once a play is made on him...he has to run directly to 1st or 2nd. Does this make sense? He says that the runner establishes the baseline.
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Skunk in the outfield has been played out here before. The baseline matters when he is advancing to a base and steps more than 3 feet out of a direct line to avoid a tag. The position where the runner was standing when he "takes off to get in a rundown" is the beginning of his baseline. If he gets out of it, to avoid a tag, he is out. Now if he goes directly to the outfield (skunk play) he has not moved toward 2B yet, so until he does there is no basepath. If he ever makes amove toward 2B, that's his basepath, much like when a runner advancing past first turns and takes a step toward 2B, wherever he is, that is his basepath and he can't take it back.