Interference

[greymule]

Andy: I don't have the Fed book with me, but as I recall, a sliding runner must slide directly into the base. If he makes any contact beyond the base, it's an automatic double play, regardless of how safe he or the other runner is. He cannot slide to the side of the base and contact the fielder, even if a foot or arm could reach the base. He must have one buttock on the ground and no foot higher than the runner's something (knee?). If the fielder is standing in the base line directly in front of the base, then I guess the runner could slide in and upend him, but that's about the extent of the legal possibilities for "breaking up two." Just about every double play slide you see in the majors would be illegal in Fed.

Also, if he does not slide, he has to get out of the way, though there's some debate about how close he has to be to the base for the call to be made. Intent is not required for interference with the throw. So little of what we all used to think of as breaking up a double play is permitted in Fed.

Another reason I have retired from Fed.