Force slide play and 2 outs or just interference and umpires judgement

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Gre144
Today,I had the following situation. R1 runs to second base on a high ground ball hit to F4. R1 does not slide into second and runs into F6 on the force play at second. I called interference on R1 and only one out since it was not likely that that the interference prevented a double play. The coach came out of the dugout and said that R1 must slide and therefore it is an automatic two outs. As I understand it in FED, the runner never has to slide but if he chooses to do so, the slide must be legal. If it is an illegal slide then the force-slide play is in affect(with first base occupied) and the umpire calls two outs.

My question is the following
1)Is the above situation a force slide play and two outs to be called or just interference and the outs to be determined by the umpire.

2) Or should I have called nothing since R1 was out on the force at second inspite of the interference and he, in my opinion, did not prevent a double play.

Fed rules please.

Greg

This was a force-play slide situation, and the BR should have (also) been out.

You're correct that the runner needn't slide -- he can run "away" from the play.

On a force play, the runner must (a) slide legally ( no pop up, rolling block, high leg, etc.) and slide toward the bag (i.e., direct line -- not just being able to reach the bag, and not past the bag), or (b) run away from the play.

Since he did neither in your play, and made contact, it's a violation and two are out.