Collision at first w/safety base

[Sweet Lou]

So it sounds like it is the baserunner's responsibility to pick the "unused" bag in the first two examples (throw from foul territory/throw that pulls her off the white bag onto the orange bag). Would the runner be called for interference if she ran into the first baseman on the orange bag in those examples? Seems like a pretty dangerous situation to allow the fielder to use the orange bag under any circumstances -- the whole point is to avoid a collision at first.

Not if you coach your runners to use the bag not occupied by the fielder which in all but a DK3 situation should be the orange bag for the runner.

In a case where the fielder is on both bases I don't see where she would be protected from obstruction.

 

[BretMan]

So it sounds like it is the baserunner's responsibility to pick the "unused" bag in the first two examples (throw from foul territory/throw that pulls her off the white bag onto the orange bag). Would the runner be called for interference if she ran into the first baseman on the orange bag in those examples? Seems like a pretty dangerous situation to allow the fielder to use the orange bag under any circumstances -- the whole point is to avoid a collision at first.

When the fielder uses the colored base, the runner MAY use the white base (not MUST). It's optional at that point.

Think about it this way...suppose a batter-runner is running full speed to the colored base, exactly as she is expected to. Then at the last second the fielder goes to the the colored base, either from a bad throw (which the runner isn't looking at or expecting) or because of a throw coming from foul ground (which is behind the runner who can't see what's going on behind her).

It would be unfair and unreasonable to expect an otherwise legally advancing runner to make a last second adjustment, based on something she isn't even aware is happening, and then to call her out if she doesn't!

That's why the batter-runner switching bases on these plays is optional, not mandatory.

 

[MTR]

When the fielder uses the colored base, the runner MAY use the white base (not MUST). It's optional at that point.

Think about it this way...suppose a batter-runner is running full speed to the colored base, exactly as she is expected to. Then at the last second the fielder goes to the the colored base, either from a bad throw (which the runner isn't looking at or expecting) or because of a throw coming from foul ground (which is behind the runner who can't see what's going on behind her).

It would be unfair and unreasonable to expect an otherwise legally advancing runner to make a last second adjustment, based on something she isn't even aware is happening, and then to call her out if she doesn't!

That's why the batter-runner switching bases on these plays is optional, not mandatory.

For the throw coming from foul territory on the 1st base side, that shouldn't be a problem if the coach is doing his/her job. Also, F3 is more likely to set up early for that throw.

AFA the errant throw allowing the defense to follow the bad throw not only gives them an unwarranted advantage, but places batter-runner and defender in a very dangerous situation which is what the base and rule was put in place to prevent. When the double/safety base became part of the ASA game, the original interpretation made much more sense then the present one does.