Running out of the baseline

[BSUmp16]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Problem here is that the actual OBR rule uses the term "his base path" for the runner.

Ok - Then swap "basepath" for "baseline" and vice versa in my original post - better?

[johnnyg08]

At first glance which is what this umpire had...I'm saying not out of his base path. I can see the other side too though.

[JJ]

Out of the baseline. Catcher's standing on the foul line, and in the video the runner took a step further away from him - making it more than an arm's length. Of course, the plate umpire had a little different angle AND he could see the entire path of the baserunner AND he didn't call him out so...NOT out of the baseline. Or not.

JJ

[Matt]

Originally Posted by JJ

Out of the baseline. Catcher's standing on the foul line, and in the video the runner took a step further away from him - making it more than an arm's length. Of course, the plate umpire had a little different angle AND he could see the entire path of the baserunner AND he didn't call him out so...NOT out of the baseline. Or not.

JJ

Arm's length from what?

[Publius]

I don't know if he was, but based on that view, I think I would have called him out. In order to judge the three feet, once a tag is attempted I watch the second and third steps.

Usually the first "go-around" step (if the runner is going to the back side of the plate) is with the right leg, and covers three feet. That's what this runner did. The second step is a recovery step. If that step crosses the go-around step, I have a violation. That runner's did not, so nothing--yet.

The third step should take the runner back toward his original path. This runner's third step appeared from that angle to be farther from his original path than the go-around step. I'd say he's out of his baseline.

If I had that PU's view, I might not think so.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Matt

Arm's length from what?

From the player attempting the tag. Roughly 3 feet. An arm's length. A guideline for calling a player out for running out of the baseline to avoid a tag. Guideline.

JJ

[Matt]

Originally Posted by JJ

From the player attempting the tag. Roughly 3 feet. An arm's length. A guideline for calling a player out for running out of the baseline to avoid a tag. Guideline.

JJ

No, the position of the defender has nothing to do from where the three feet gets measured.

[JJ]

So if the defender is standing in a spot with the ball in his hand, and the runner goes more than 3 feet (arm's length) away from the defender to avoid a tag, even though that means he's running more than 3 feet (arm's length) out of his direct line to the base he's running to, you're not going to call him out for running out of the baseline? You say potato...

JJ