Batter running outside first baseline to avoid tag with bases loaded

[toledotom46]

Bases loaded, 1 out, B1 hits slow roller toward first down the line, F3 charges ball looking for play at home, F3 fields ball fair just at the start of the running lane for B1 to run in, F3 instead of throwing home swipe tags at B1 running by, B1 steps out of running lane toward dugout to avoid tag, R3 slows coming to plate seeing no play and does not touch or cross plate before F3 swipes at B1, BU calls B1 out seeing his foot clearly out of running lane, but PU also calls B1 out for being tagged, Question: Does run count if B1 is called out for running outside running lane to avoid tag? Do runners all go back to previous base? Situation is ball becomes dead on avoided tag and runner not across home.

[Rich Ives]

For the running lane: You can only be called out for interference if you run outside the lane and interfere with the fielder taking the throw. It doesn't apply to your play. No interference. If the umpire called it, protest.

On an "avoid the tag" play, the ball is live. In your play the run scores. If it was the third out the run would not score as the third out was made by the batter before reaching first.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by toledotom46
Bases loaded, 1 out, B1 hits slow roller toward first down the line, F3 charges ball looking for play at home, F3 fields ball fair just at the start of the running lane for B1 to run in, F3 instead of throwing home swipe tags at B1 running by, B1 steps out of running lane toward dugout to avoid tag, R3 slows coming to plate seeing no play and does not touch or cross plate before F3 swipes at B1, BU calls B1 out seeing his foot clearly out of running lane, but PU also calls B1 out for being tagged, Question: Does run count if B1 is called out for running outside running lane to avoid tag? Do runners all go back to previous base? Situation is ball becomes dead on avoided tag and runner not across home.

As Rich said, the running lane doesn't apply on this play. But, BR may have moved more than 3 geet from his direct line to the bag to avoid the tag. In that instance, he'd be out (edited here to correct misreading of the number of outs -- but the ball would remain live and the run would score. Had there been two outs, the BR would be the third out ) and no run would score.

[Edited by bob jenkins on Apr 30th, 2002 at 08:36 AM]

[greymule]

But being out for running out of the baseline is not some form of interference. It does not create a dead ball or return runners to their bases. BR would be simply be out the same as if he were tagged, but the run would still score (with 1 out as in the situation given).

[Bfair]

The running lane is a location to assure the runner does not interfere with a fielder receiving a throw at 1B. However, on a ball fielded on the 1B line it is the responsibility of the BR to avoid running into the fielder fielding the ball. Therefore, before any play initiated on the BR, the BR may have already widened his basepath further into foul territory more than merely the width of the lane. That is legal, and sometimes required to assure avoiding collision.

HIS basepath to 1B at the time of the play---which is the tag attempt (not the fielding of the ball)--- may have already been developed from foul territory to 1B. When the play (the tag attempt) is attempted, he is then allowed to legally alter his basepath 3 ft. (an arm's reach) to be considered as not leaving his basepath. Altering beyond that is considered leaving his basepath to avoid a tag.

So it's quite possible to conceive this runner could have been 5-6 ft. foul without having left his basepath to avoid a tag. Much depends upon the runner's establishing of his basepath prior to the actual tag attempt.

If any runner is declared out for leaving his basepath to avoid a tag, the ball remains alive and in play.


Just my opinion,

Freix

[bluezebra]

"BU calls B1 out seeing his foot clearly out of running lane, but PU also calls B1 out for being tagged,"

Poor mechanics. Up to 1B, the call belongs to PU. Bases were loaded. What is BU doing that he can see the B/R? He has base responsibilities. This should have been discussed in pre-game with partner.

bob

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by bluezebra
Poor mechanics. Up to 1B, the call belongs to PU. Bases were loaded. What is BU doing that he can see the B/R? He has base responsibilities. This should have been discussed in pre-game with partner.

bob

I agree that any 45-foot lane violations belong to the PU. However, if a tag is attempted, the PU is responsible for the first half of the first base line, and the BU is responsible for the second half.

So, those two umpires had it backwards. The PU should've been concerned with the running lane, and the BU should've called the swipe tag.

Of course, that leaves no one to watch R3 cross the plate. Ahhhh, the fun of two-man!