Play at the plate. The catcher is about two feet up the line on the third base side. Ball beats the runner easily, but the catcher has to adjust to make the catch and lunge back at the plate. Runner slides feet first, hard and well short of the plate. As the catcher lunges back to the plate, the sliding runner makes pretty solid contact. Again, he did slide feet first, but well short of the plate. Ball is jarred loose, runner stands up and touches home plate. What is the call?

It may be somewhat illogical to assume the runner should slide on a play at the plate even if his slide brings him short of the plate. He is under most rules requied to "avoid contact". From the way you describe it sounds as if the runner did same. Therefore, no problem. Jim Simms/NYC

I got a wreck and a run scored.

rex