Dropped third strike base path question

[slick58]

Dropped third strike with batter walking to 3b dugout. Batter gets a few steps away from dugout and realizes dropped third strike. Catcher is in between the batter and the plate. The batter attempts to run from dugout to first base across field a few feet in front of pitchers mound. The play was ruled runner out per 3 feet base path rule.

My question is in that instance what exactly is the base path? The catcher was following/walking behind the batter. Batter turns and runs across the field. Which angle is the base path? Is it the angle the batter was walking to the dugout or the angle from when the batter turned to run?

 

[Comp]

The batter/runner or any runner for that matter sets their own base path, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the baseline which is a straight line between any 2 bases. If the batter/runner was at the dugout when they decided to run, they may take any path they wish to 1st base. Only when a defensive player attempts to make a tag on them are the locked to 3' either side of their basepath, which is a straight line from their current position to the base they are currently headed toward.

 

[CoogansBluff]

The batter/runner or any runner for that matter sets their own base path, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the baseline which is a straight line between any 2 bases.

Interesting. ... So a baserunner legally can be anywhere on the field until a defensive player attempts to make a play on the runner? And then the runner can travel only in the direction toward a base (which is her 'base path'? ... Example: Let's say there is a runner on first, ground ball to short. The shortstop fields, attempts to tag second but misses, throws to first. The runner thinks the SS forced her out and for some odd reason steps on second but continues to run for 20 feet beyond second base. So the runner remains safe, even though she's in short left center field? She can't be called out for running out of the base path unless a fielder is attempting a play on her?

 

[Comp]

Interesting. ... So a baserunner legally can be anywhere on the field until a defensive player attempts to make a play on the runner? And then the runner can travel only in the direction toward a base (which is her 'base path'? ... Example: Let's say there is a runner on first, ground ball to short. The shortstop fields, attempts to tag second but misses, throws to first. The runner thinks the SS forced her out and for some odd reason steps on second but continues to run for 20 feet beyond second base. So the runner remains safe, even though she's in short left center field? She can't be called out for running out of the base path unless a fielder is attempting a play on her?

That would be correct.

 

[Umpire]

There is also a "three foot lane interference" rule. That has nothing to do with an attempted tag. But if the batter-runner interferes with the defensive player's opportunity to catch the ball at 1st base, then you could have three foot lane interference once the batter-runner is 30 feet up the first base line.

 

[cmspock]

How about at home plate? Does the 3ft rule apply to the catcher with runner coming into home plate? My catcher was about 2 ft up the line and the runner ran around her towards the back stop/fence and came back. The ump ruled her safe when she touched home and said there is no baseline at home and the runner can go pretty much anywhere and then tag.

 

[BretMan]

The explanation you got was just MSU...

(Making Stuff Up).

The same three-foot basepath rule applies at any base, anywhere on the field, anytime a fielder has the ball and is trying to tag a runner.

 

[slick58]

In my scenario by what had been explained the call was correct. The player was headed towards the dugout being followed by the catcher, the batter made a hard right and attempted to run across the field to first exiting the 3 foot path she was on. The only thing is if a player is headed to the dugout being followed by the catcher attempting to tag them they would be ruled out since they would have to change direction greater than 3 feet to reach first base.

 

[Umpireernie]

In the example of a runner heading to the dugout becuase she thinks she has been retired.. the runner can go anywhere until a defensive player makes an attempt to tag the runner. At that point the runner must head directly from where she is toward the next or previous base. If they move more than 3 feet out of a direct path toward the next or previous base to avoid a tag they are out. The ball remains alive.

The path the runner was on prior to the tag attempt (i.e. the path toward the dugout) is not the issue, the paths that matter are the paths directly from the point she is at when the tag attempt happens toward the next or previous base. So making the sharp right turn and heading across the field would be ok as long as she was heading toward the base or plate.

Of course if the runner enters DBT she is also out.

 

[honus14]

Here's how I think of it.

You know those CGI lines they use on TV during a football game to show the first down line? Pretend the field you're playing at has that technology. At the very moment a fielder tries to tag a runner, the "TV broadcasting crew" at your game pauses the game, and draws one of those lines directly from the runner to the base she's trying to get to.

THAT is the line she can't run more than 3 feet from.

Nothing that happens before the moment the tag is attempted matters. (I'm not sure that slick58 is saying it does; I'm just confirming that it doesn't.)