FPSR Rules Analysis (NFHS)

[johnnyg08]

Just now, Thunderheads said:

Funny you say that, because, ... slides past and THEN MAKES CONTACT was not clear to me, so I learned something!  

It then increases our confidence in making these decisions versus pretending we didn't see it or making up some other reason why we didn't have the stones to make the call. (not suggesting that is you or anyone...just generally)

[Kali]

A couple things that haven't been handled here are: That a legal slide offers some protection for the runner in front of and on top of the bag.  Contact made with the fielder is allowed if it isn't above the knee.  A runner who is NOT sliding has no protected area. 

Also another issue that hasn't been handled here concerns an R1 that is out by a mile.  That runner is still advancing standing up.  If the fielder throws the ball and it hits R1, that's got to be interference, right?  If the fielder starts to throw and pulls it down because he's afraid to hit R1, that's NOT interference, right?  He has to throw or. at least attempt a throw, or there's nothing to interfere with.  Or tell me how else this goes.

[Senor Azul]

I have posted the following a few times—including in a thread you started as a guest, Mr. Kali, in August 2021. From the 2016 Baseball Rule Differences by Carl Childress (section 350, p. 234):

Official Interpretation:  Hopkins:  On a force play a runner hit by a throw between bases is NOT guilty of interference if he did not slide when he is in the baseline and “not even halfway to second:  The runner cannot be expected to slide at that point in the base path.” (Hopkins, website 2007 #3)

Note from the BRD:  This official interpretation seems to indicate that a runner who is more than halfway had better hit the dirt.

2007 NFHS Baseball Interpretations

SITUATION 3: With no outs and R1 on first base, B2 hits a hard ground ball to F6. F6 fields the ball and steps on second base and then throws to first base in an attempt to double up B2. R1 is running standing up in a straight line to second and is hit by F6's throw. R1 was not even half way to second base and did not intentionally interfere with the throw. The defensive coach states that B2 should also be out since R1 violated the force-play slide rule. RULING: This is not a violation of the force play slide rule. R1 cannot be expected to slide at that point in the base path. The play stands. R1 would be out only if he intentionally interfered. (8-4-2b penalty)