Out of Base Path Call Against M's Solano Ends Game

[Lindsay]

Umpire Stu Scheurwater's out of the base path call against Seattle batter-runner Donovan Solano ended the A's-Mariners game as Stu ruled that Solano ran more than three feet from his established base path to avoid first baseman Tyler Soderstrom's tag. Did he?

Out of the base path calls near first base are one of the only instances in which painted lines on the baseball field are helpful for adjudication. This is because the distance from the foul line to the lane line along the first baseline is exactly three feet, by rule.

To review, out of the base path is as follows: "Any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely" (Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1)).

While the runner's lane interference rule, as pertains to the physical markings on the ground, states: "The chalk lines marking the threefoot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane" (OBR 5.09(a)(11)).

So although the runner's lane rule itself bears no relevance to this tag play at first base, because Solano was positioned on the fair territory side of the runner's lane at the beginning of F3 Soderstrom's tag attempt, and because Solano then ran onto the foul territory side of the runner's lane, we know that Solano must have run more than three feet from his base path to avoid the tag, and, thus, is out of the base path.

Video as follows:
Alternate Link: Ump ends M's game with out of base path call against Solano near first base

View the full article

[Richvee]

Announcer "It doesn't look like he went 3 feet"

Lynn- "Except, he did" 

[jimurrayalterego]

47 minutes ago, Lindsay said:

Umpire Stu Scheurwater's out of the base path call against Seattle batter-runner Donovan Solano ended the A's-Mariners game as Stu ruled that Solano ran more than three feet from his established base path to avoid first baseman Tyler Soderstrom's tag. Did he?

 

Out of the base path calls near first base are one of the only instances in which painted lines on the baseball field are helpful for adjudication. This is because the distance from the foul line to the lane line along the first baseline is exactly three feet, by rule.

 

To review, out of the base path is as follows: "Any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely" (Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1)).

 

While the runner's lane interference rule, as pertains to the physical markings on the ground, states: "The chalk lines marking the threefoot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane" (OBR 5.09(a)(11)).

 

So although the runner's lane rule itself bears no relevance to this tag play at first base, because Solano was positioned on the fair territory side of the runner's lane at the beginning of F3 Soderstrom's tag attempt, and because Solano then ran onto the foul territory side of the runner's lane, we know that Solano must have run more than three feet from his base path to avoid the tag, and, thus, is out of the base path.

Video as follows:
Alternate Link: Ump ends M's game with out of base path call against Solano near first base

View the full article

Was he three feet out when the tag attempt happened?

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxdZBqa688ZnaOt3wj9RNnbwlF8jz_piLc?si=r9I87VHIulq2O1vp

[Richvee]

5 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Was he three feet out when the tag attempt happened?

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxdZBqa688ZnaOt3wj9RNnbwlF8jz_piLc?si=r9I87VHIulq2O1vp

When the tag attempt "happened" or when the tag attempt "began"?

This still shows when the tag attempt happened. It began while F3 was still in the air and started reaching. 

[jimurrayalterego]

53 minutes ago, Richvee said:

When the tag attempt "happened" or when the tag attempt "began"?

This still shows when the tag attempt happened. It began while F3 was still in the air and started reaching. 

I think the last point of the tag attempt is at :13 in my clip where the glove is pointed at #39 and he is not yet out of the lane. But analyzing the geometry of a non reviewable play is worthless. The three foot rule is vague as to what part of the body needs to be outside 3 feet. It's umpire judgement and the OP looked like 3 feet.

[Velho]

Good on BU.

One has to wonder if, as we've been discussing, the BU below waited for the tag so he didn't have to make an unpopular call?

 

[jimurrayalterego]

23 minutes ago, Velho said:

Good on BU.

One has to wonder if, as we've been discussing, the BU below waited for the tag so he didn't have to make an unpopular call?

 

This was added to the MLBUM a few years ago for plays like this. I guess they didn't get the memo:

"31. OUT OF THE BASEPATH

Rule 5.09(b)

(1): When determining whether a base runner should be called out under Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1), so long as the umpire determines that a play is being made on the runner and an attempt to tag is occurring, i.e. the fielder is moving to tag the runner, no physical tag attempt is required to call a runner out for leaving the basepath."