Slide/No Slide

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

......... My take is that if he's close enough to slide, then he must slide (or run away) or be liable for interference.

This assumption is not only wrong (in FED) but will get you into trouble.

1. No runner is ever required to slide (FED, NCAA, OBR)
2. If a runner chooses to slide, he must do so legally. In FED, it must be directly from the runner's position in a straight line to the base. The runner may veer away from the fielder, or run in an opposite direction from the fielder's position. The runner may not over slide the base, pop up (allowed in NCAA), or high cleat as he slides.
3. If a runner chooses not to slide (FED) and interference occurs, the runner is called out (and may be called for Malicious Contact).

So you see, in FED, we must let the play develop before we assume the runner is out. A runner can choose not to slide and run through 2nd base, while the pivot man has already cleared or has no chance of making the play. On the other side of the coin, the slide could be a "take out" requiring a DP call and/or MC.