I don't get it

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Are you assuming F3 would not have caught the throw on the fair/white side if it was accurate?

Not our job to assume anything. The bottom line is that F3 didn't maintain contact with the white base, and is now rewarded by getting an out anyway.

This is now a play on ASA website because it constitutes a change in how to call this play. The prior regime (that was involved in writing the rule, and grasped the full intent, directed by the now Commisioner from the Richmond, VA area, HP) stated that this wasn't an out, that only a throw that drew that defender completely into foul territory could THEN result in the defender returning to the nearer (foul/contrast) bag to accomplish the mission of the "safety" base (not crossing over the runner's path).

This change doesn't support the intent of safety; it rewards the defense with a double sized base on the batter-runner, even when the double sized base doesn't come into effect until after the batter-runner passes the base when a play is being made.

But, the person making that ruling has that authority; so it is now the new ruling.