Illegal slide--FED rules

[Publius]

R1 stealing, F2 drops pitch.

R1 safe without a play, but makes (minor) contact beyond the base with F6, who is just standing there.

R1 out, or nothing? I said to the complaining coach that there was no play, so nothing, but I'm not 100% sure I was right. By rule I seem to be, but since FED has a penchant for case plays and rulings contrary to the rule book, as well as a hyper-propensity for "safety", I'm never sure if I missed something.

Anyone?

[UmpJM]

Publius,

You should have told the complaining coach he was right - there was contact beyond the base. Then call obstruction, and put the runner on 3B.

Sorry, just dreamin'... On to your question.

Did the runner slide or go in standing up?

JM

[Publius]

Slid. and ended up with knees on top of the bag.

Had there been a play, I would have called him out for the illegal slide. The rule, as I recall it, refers to an out for a runner sliding illegally and making contact with a fielder in the immediate act of making a play.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Publius

Slid. and ended up with knees on top of the bag.

Had there been a play, I would have called him out for the illegal slide. The rule, as I recall it, refers to an out for a runner sliding illegally and making contact with a fielder in the immediate act of making a play.

The exact language of 8-4-2 is: "does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play."

The "illegally alters the actions" clause gives us a lot of leeway.

[UmpJM]

I concur with mbyron. I got "nothing" on this - and the complaining coach is starting to get me pissed off.

JM

[pastordoug]

This seems to have gotten a lot of attention so let me add something to the mix..... First I agree that on the OP I've got nothing. Now, according to the FED rule. it seems like if a legal slide was made and that legal slide does not illegally alter the actions of the fielder contact beyond the bag should not be called as INT.... The only issue I see is a runner sliding "completly" past the bag causing contact which IMO could prevent a play on runner.... But I am seeing players come hard into the bag sliding past the bag but not beyond. I remembering seeing a discusion along these lines before....