Establishing the Baseline

[mbyron]

Good call. The only time this rule comes into play occurs when the defense is actively making a play on the runner. Then he must run directly from wherever he is to a base, and he is out if he deviates more than 3 feet from his basepath.

The line between the bases is irrelevant to the enforcement of this rule.

[DonInKansas]

I'll agree on the good call. Baseline isn't established until they're making a play on the runner. Hence the "skunk in the outfield" type scenarios/plays.

[ManInBlue]

I agree - good call.

I had a similar sitch last weekend. Rundown b/w 1B & 2B. R1 was headed toward 2B and made a wide turn back toward 1B and dove in safely. F1 (or F3) was behind him with the ball when he turned. There was no attempted tag, other than running behind him for a couple of steps. HC went..let's just say he didn't agree with my call. He claimed, "It was an obvious attempt to avoid a tag" He didn't want to listen to my explanation. He just wanted to tell me how wrong and how ridiculous the call was.

[JR12]

Tell the coach, the line between 3rd and home is the foul line, not the base line! If a rat coach complained about this, he needs to go to T-ball.

[jdmara]

Good Call! Everyone (not umpires of course) thinks the foul line is the baseline

-Josh