out?

[AtlUmpSteve]

IMO, this is a HTBT play, and the key issue is when is the runner avoiding a tag? Stopping, even retreating, when the fielder ahead has the ball is not avoiding a tag; you cannot be avoiding a hypothetical tag until one is attempted. AHA!! The key, I think, is that a tag must be attempted; once that happens, the base path is established, and the 3' variation avoiding the tag in any direction, including a reversal when forced, can be enforced.

Prior to the attempt, being forced doesn't require a runner to run into a future tag. After all, the play made may remove that force.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

True, but irrelevant to the play at hand as such an occurence was not stated in the OP, thus cannot be considered

Per my above responses, Timmy's justification to use this rule was that her base path was between her position, "X", and 3B... and Timmy wanted to say that she was now 3 feet from the "X-3B" base path... thus had violated the rule. When I explained that by moving backwards towards 2B, she had created a second and completely new base path, that's when it finally made sense to Mr. Timmy.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not so fast. You said think like the protest committee. I don't have to prove anything and to be honest, neither does the coach. Both parties offer their view of the play, the umpire states what they called and why. From there, the protest committee either upholds the protest of the misapplication of the rule or denies it.

I know. I said the coach thing to get you riled up...

[UmpLarryJohnson]

Originally Posted by SRW

When I explained to Timmy that ya can't do that unless it was the BR,

Why cant the BR run backwards on the basepath??

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by UmpLarryJohnson

Why cant the BR run backwards on the basepath??

Because there is a rule that specifically prohibits it.

Good enough reason for me!

[UmpLarryJohnson]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Because there is a rule that specifically prohibits it.

Good enough reason for me!

learning every day!!! thanks

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SRW

You have given a totally different scenario where R1 isn't forced to advance. The OP had bases loaded, where every runner is forced to advance.

Does that matter? Is the base path created when the runner is forced to advance? i.e.: in the OP, R2 on 2B set her path to 3B, then deviated (backwards) by more than 3 feet to avoid the tag.

Just sparking discussion here... think like a protest committee ... prove to me that calling an out in the OP is incorrect.

The basepath is the line between the baserunner and the base she's going to. There is NO RULE that says a runner (other than BR between home and 1st) cannot run toward her previous base. Retreating more than 3 feet to avoid a tag is CERTAINLY a legal move, as she is heading toward the previous base and still in her basepath to that base. Subsequent action could even allow her to run to and stop at that base, should a succeeding runner be put out at any point.