Avoiding the Catcher: FED

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by Spence

My understanding in FED is that the runner cannot truck the catcher. He has to either slide or go around the catcher.

Runner rounding third heading for home. Throw is up the 3rd base line. F2 goes after the throw and there is a collision between the runner and F2.

What are you looking for in order to determine if this violates the "don't hit the catcher" rule? The runner clearly sees the catcher coming up the line. Is that enough? Does the distance away from home plate come into play?

I think there is a big distinction between legal contact (aka "a train wreck") and malicious contact. Although baseball is not considered a contact sport, not all contact is illegal.

In OP, if R# is heading for home while the throw is up the 3B line you have to look for a few things, in my opinion:

1. Who initiated the contact?
2. Is the contact avoidable by the runner?
3. Did anyone maliciously contact the other player? (ie. Runner loaded up and led with their shoulder, or catcher laid down a hard tag directed towards the face or head...)

If (in the OP) F2 is being drawn into the running by the throw, the runner may not have the opportunity to avoid this contact because they don't know where F2 is heading. The contact is a train wreck (incidental), in my opinion (aka legal contact). Then is must be decided if there was malicious contact. There are an infinite amount of scenarios that could occur but that's briefly what I look at for contact between the runner and catcher at home. Now obstruction and interference is a whole different animal on this play.

-Josh