Two different plays

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by DG

20 feet away is not close enough to slide but he is close enough to abandon running efforts in a direction away from the fielder to avoid any potential for influencing the play. It's a safety rule, let this pass and one day the runner will get beaned between the eyes when the fielder is NOT influenced by his presence and EXPECTS him to avoid. Call the FPSR in this situation and you will train him (and maybe all the players on both sides) to do what FED wants him to do, avoid injury.

Not calling this is OBR interpretation.

Call it that way and one day the batter will get beaned between the eyes when the fielder IS influenced by his presence and adjusts in the same direction the runner does.

The runner is not required to slide - ever. Even the FPSR does not require the slide only that the slide be legal and away from the fielder if it does occur. The amount of time between the successful put out at second and the throw to first is not sufficient for the runner to react to his change in status in a meaningful way. He must continue to run at full speed until he is put out because he may not assume error-free play by his opponents. He cannot be expected to go from a dead run to turning away in the amount of time it takes for the fielder to make the relay to first.