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RULE
CLARIFICATION:
"Runners Avoiding Collisions"
from Bill Dal Porto - Head of Umpires
I have been asked to clarify the rule
that says a runner must slide or attempt to avoid contact with a fielder
at any base. This is the exact same rule that the high schools use. The
intent of the rule is to avoid having a collision between the runner and
the fielder where someone could get hurt.
 If a runner crashes into a fielder, he is out and ejected, regardless of
whether
the fielder holds on to the ball. If the fielder does not have the ball
and the
runner crashes into him, the runner is safe on the obstruction but he is
still ejected.
"Crashing" is an attempt by the runner
to run into the fielder with the intent
of making the fielder drop the ball.
Examples are running hard into the fielder,
lowering of the shoulder and running
into the fielder, and raising the arms when
running into the fielder.
If a runner comes into the plate
standing up and is tagged by the catcher
without the runner making an attempt to
run into the catcher and dislodge
the ball, that is a legal play even
though there is minimal contact initiated
by the catcher.
If the catcher drops the ball, the
runner is safe. This would be the case if the catcher tags the runner on
his side as the runner is running by. However, if the catcher is
standing with the ball directly in the path of the runner, the runner
cannot run into him even remotely hard. If the catcher is knocked down,
it is definitely too hard, The runner can slide, he can attempt to go
around the catcher, he can get in a pickle, or he can give up and let
himself be tagged. This is true even when the catcher is several feet up
the line so that sliding is not really an option. It is a safety rule
with the advantage going to the defense.
Whether to call the runner out and
eject him is a judgment call by the umpire. Some calls are easy, some
are not. For instance, if the runner is running hard toward the plate,
and the catcher at the last moment runs into the runner's path up the
line to catch an errant throw and there is a huge collision, that is a
legal play. The umpire has to make a judgment as to the intent of
the runner. If the runner slides, however hard, or if he makes
an attempt to avoid the catcher, there is no automatic out and no
ejection; and there is no obstruction, as the catcher ran into the path
trying to catch the ball, which he is supposed to do.
The examples above talk about the
plate, but the same rules apply on any base.
I hope this helps everyone understand
the rule a little better. It's still not always easy for the umpire to
make the call, as there are gray areas that always cause an argument. As
I said above, some calls are very easy and some are hard and subject to
differing opinions. If a coach wants to make sure that his players are
not ejected, teach them to slide on all close plays, especially at the
plate. If the fielder is up the line so sliding is not an option, tell
them to get into a pickle.
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