Expert: Rick Bundy - 7/25/2011

Question
man on first, attempting to steal second, throw from catcher is short, shortstop comes up and gets ball misses tag, base runner does not slide, over runs second by more than 3 feet, shortstop misses tag as runner dives back to second, called out for being out of base path, correct call???

Answer
Tim:  Thank you for your question.

Once the runner started towards second base, he establishes his direct line between the bases.

While he cannot run more than 3 feet away from that direct line to avoid being tagged, in this case he was still on his direct line, all be it that line was extended.

He can over run the base, if he attempts to return that base and is under the guidelines of the direct line initially established.

By your description, it sounds like he dove straight back in; but he could also use his lateral 3 feet to avoid the tag on the return.

Yours in baseball,

Rick