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Originally Posted by maven
Also, the tag missed by a lot: again, the runner diverged, and maybe more than 3 feet, but if the tag would have missed anyway, he didn't diverge in order to avoid the tag.
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Sorry, but I don't think the success of the tag has anything to do with this. Here's the wording in the rule:
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He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely.
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I don't see any criterion in there that requires the tag to be successful minus the deviation.
If that were the case, a runner could run all over the field while a fielder with the ball chases him, and until the fielder gets close enough to actually tag him, that's when you start the three-feet determination.
For me, once the fielder has the ball and turns toward the runner, that's when you look for the violation.