Double Bag Safe or Out?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

What ruleset are you using?

In almost all of them, plays on someone other than the batter, the base is just one big base - for both the fielder and the runner.

I find it a bit unsettling that the rule sets allow the defense to take advantage of the orange bag in situations like this.

The purpose of the DFB is to enhance safety on the single play of when a throw is going to first to retire the BR going there from home. To treat it as "one big base" afterward for all other situations really provides the runner no benefit, but gives the defense an edge in plays that I feel they shouldn't have.

Suppose in the OP, F3 makes a diving catch of the line drive about 10 feet or so in foul territory while R2 is a few steps off the bag. F3 is able to dive back and tag the far edge of the orange bag with the ball in her mitt a split second before R2 can reach the opposite edge of the white bag. R2 would be out because F3 had the advantage of not needing to stretch 15 more inches.

That said, are you sure the double first is treated as one on these type plays? I just checked the ASA rule book, and this was a brand new add to rule 8-2-M-7. But I don't see an equivalent ruling in the FED book.