Help! Rules 5.09(f), 7.08(f), and 7.09(m)

[Sky Popper]

Originally Posted by David B

I would guess I would put this more of a string theory, but in reality, passed the fielder means ... "passed the fielder"

He's diving to his right, once the ball is passed his glove, its passed the fielder.

He moving to his right, same thing.

The runner is always either going to be behind the fielder or in front of the fielder, so if he's behind the fielder he's safe.

Especially since a deflected ball is not going to ever cause an out on the runner.

Hope that helps
Thanks
David

Isn't the intent of the rule that the fielder have a chance to make a play on the ball? If "pass by" is not dependent on the distance between the fielder and the ball, why differentiate between "through" and "pass by"? Wouldn't "through" be just another way of passing by the fielder, so long as he doesn't touch it? Also, if the runner can be anywhere behind the fielder, why would the rule specify that the runner be "immediately behind" the fielder? It seems that "immediately behind" endorses the "in the vicinity of" interpretation.

Thanks,

Dennis