contact at the plate - must slide?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by WestMichBlue

Today, in both codes I think it is fair to state that if a runner stays on her feet and makes contact with a defender, then:

a) if the defender does not have the ball the call is obstruction,
b) if the defender has the ball the call is interference and runner is out,
c) in either case if the contact is judged to be flagrant or malicious, the runner is ejected.

Understand that in b) we are talking about the runner initiating the contact. If the defender has the ball and she initiates the contact attempting to tag the runner or get the out, then that contact is legal. If she hangs on to the balll, call the out. If she loses the ball, call safe.

WMB

I was gong to ask about a legal slide in "b", but then I reread your "stays on her feet " wording and thought it was worth expanding to "anything but a legal slide".