[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by greymule
ASA includes "fake tag" in its definitions and its index and devotes POE #19 to it, so I think it's fair to say there is a fake tag rule. Of course it is obstruction, but a special type, considered unsportsmanlike and exposing the offender to ejection.

The definition is less than enlightening (and its last sentence fractures some grammar). It doesn't say whether a fake tag includes feigning a throw or touching a base as if in possession of the ball. But they do call it fake tag, not fake play. It does say that if the runner does not slide, slow down, or stop running, there's no violation (but give a warning anyway).

POE #19 adds that obstruction is an act of a fielder in the base path. Where was that outfielder who said, "I got it"?

Coming across the base to which the runner is advancing and continuing toward the runner feigning a throw to first. I believe that would qualify.

In my opinion, the way you call the fake tag depends on how broadly or narrowly you interpret the rule. Absent case book examples, we have to make our own judgments. I agree that if the fielder gets in the runner's way and causes him to slow down, that's obstruction. But just acting as if he has the ball on a force at 2B isn't enough for me, no matter how the runner reacts.

No argument. If you look at my previous posts, I said as much when I stated that the player just coming across the bag as if receiving a throw would not have been a problem. But that's a little different than stopping on the base and feigning a throw to 1B to complete a double play. Think about what a runner does when there is a ground ball in the infield. They sprint toward 2B and the moment they see a defender come across, they slide or turn (usually to the left) to avoid taking one in the forehead. As a runner, you are not looking over your shoulder to find the ball.

As far as the danger of sliding goes, a runner who knows how to slide is safer sliding on a close play than going in standing up. I slid five thousand times and never got more than a raspberry. (And with metal spikes and intent to upend infielders, too, and nobody ever got hurt.) And if every slide is potentially dangerous, then so is every potential crash because a runner didn't slide. I think the danger is especially great when a runner tries to change to a slide at the last instant—something a fake tag might well cause.

I use to always slide because I could without sustaining injury. However, have you seen the people out there playing softball lately? Even the older travel ball players don't have a clue. During the Olympics, they had one of the players do a short on sliding. I damn near choked when that player said that when you go into a slide, fold your back leg under the other and slide into the base on the bent leg. And this was an Olympian? The method she described qualifies for two things: A great set-up for a pop-up slide and a damn good way to screw up a knee! Last time I checked, first contact on a feet-first slide should be the upper thigh/rump area, then bring the legs down. This avoids major injuries to the ankles, knees and even hips.