Jesus Sanchez scores on a ground out, Clement drifts out of the baseline to avoid the tag from Henderson but the umpires do not rule him out
To be clear, it’s not a baseline it’s a basepath which is a line from the batter to the base at the time a tag is being attempted. That being said, idk how he isn’t out of the basepath there lol
The GameDay 3D shot is comical
holy shit im dying watching this lol
He swam to second in that. XDD
This seems legal as he doesn’t attempt the tag until he’s already out wide then goes right to base as rule states he has to.
Exactly. You’re allowed to avoid fielders. That’s what the umpires thought.
What would have happened if Clement didn’t veer and just ran into the fielder bracing himself for impact with a forearm up to protect himself?
He would want to avoid the tag to allow the hitter to reach and the run to score. It would be better to just stop and make Henderson come to him. You’re not allowed to purposefully interfere with the throw so whatever you do with your arms it would be up to the umpires what your intent was.
Not too far off from how it played out IRL. Just wish that I could find the angle we had on MASN that showed the same thing.
Imagine a guy rounds 1st for a double how far out would he be.
That’s way different …
I mean look at how he has to crawl back to the base man, this is comically stupid officiating
The only thing that matters is if he veered 3 feet from a direct line to the base when the tag was first attempted. It’s pretty close.
Here’s when the tag was first attempted (when glove starts to get extended) Here’s where he is after with the basepath kept on
I would say it’s slightly over 3 feet, but not by a ton and could change depending when you think the tag was first attempted.
Hot take: I don’t see a tag attempt. I see fielder giving a performative half assed motion to bait the ump into giving him a call. It’s the baseball equivalent of a flop.
On the other hand, that means umpires have been incorrectly calling runners out during rundowns when they step out of the path and the fielder with the ball makes no effort to tag them.
I would love to see a video example of a runner being called out of the basepath without a fielder extending their glove to attempt a tag because I can’t recall any.
That’s what broadcast said, all he had to do was stop and start a run down to get the call .
But then you wouldn’t get your double play which is the point of this rule no?
You can’t just half ass the tag to get the automatic 2B out and throw to 1B for the double play?
Exactly why he should be safe !
Gotcha
I was trying to understand the basis of this rule because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a play like this lol
You can give up on a tag when you think the runner is obviously way far out… It’s not rocket science.
It’s a closer call than it seems like. I’m surprised he wasn’t called out. Umps usually always call it out.
Ernie took a risk by doing that for sure. Safer baserunning to get caught in a rundown and try to let the run score and the runner get to first.
I can make a case it’s the right call but no one here wants any part of hearing it. 😂
Gunnar doesnt attempt a tag (if you can call it that) until he’s already to his left. Baseline isn’t established until a tag is attempted
I watched the Jays broadcast and they explained it pretty well. It’s legal according to the rule book
Lmao the inching up at the end is making me cackle
Okay, lmao. I’m a diehard Jays fan, it didn’t look that egregious on TV, that is hysterically bad. They completely blew that.
the umpires probably decided that Gunnar’s tag attempt wasn’t a real attempt, therefore not establishing a basepath for Ernie to leave.
The part that was a real attempt was so short-lived that the runner didn’t have time to travel 3 feet, let alone 3 feet diverted from his original path
This is what I think too. If Gunnar had made more of an effort on the tag attempt, that probably would have swayed the umps.
Then again, who knows with this officiating crew, lol.
If he went for the tag, he wouldn’t have gotten the out at first, hence why he rushed. Umps arent going to hand him a double play when he didnt even try.
This is the reasonable take that no one wants to here.
There is 0 chance that ever becomes a double play ball. Its either a fielders choice or an out at first.
This is right. Gunnar looked like he gave up on the tag, why should the runner be out?
Yeah. I initially thought maybe the umps saw something I didn’t, but it’s pretty clear to me he was well outside of the basepath. Jays will take any break they can get right now and that was a huge one.
This basepath line is perfectly legal. The 3 foot rule only applies in a tag attempt. Everyone is skipping over the fact that this call was made on the basis that there was not a tag attempt.
He barely reached, who tries to make a tag without fully reaching for the runner?
I would argue that the “tag attempt” starts the moment Gunnar is running toward Ernie. Otherwise, any runner caught in a pickle could run out toward the outfield and, if the fielder doesn’t reach out toward him, he is free to run to the base.
One way to look at it is that the right move for Ernie is to waste Hendersons time to hold them to only one out. So if Henderson doesn’t take the time to attempt a tag, he doesnt deserve the out.
All he had to do was reach.
It’s like in the world series game when the Dodgers paused at the lodged ball. That was a smart play, but if he grabbed the ball and missed the out then that would be on him. You don’t get to half-ass the play and demand the best hypothetical outcome from the umps.
Right, but aside from the fact that he did reach out, he’s already pursuing the runner the instant he gets the ball.
But you see how is arm is not extended far out? Its not even close to a full reach. He is keeping his glove close to his body so he can make the throw to first afterwards.
Ernie was likely just trying to waste his time by forcing a reach, Henderson has to actually take the time to reach to deserve the out. He got greedy and wanted the double play without the risk of taking the time needed to get both outs.
True, I thought he did a tag attempt initially, but I can see why they would rule that he didn’t make an attempt.
You have to actually attempt a tag. Like, for realsies, not just slightly wave your glove in the general direction of a player.
Absolutely ridiculous
The umps in my coed slow pitch league call that an out every time
“I don’t even know if that’s a tag attempt”
Give me a fucking break, Dan.
You gotta make a full tag attempt. If he had reached for Clement then he likely wouldn’t have gotten the out at first. Doesn’t make sense to give him both outs when he didn’t take the time to make an actual tag attempt.
more on the rule itself than the ump. i feel for the orioles here but i think the ump is in line with the rule as written.
im in favor of adjusting the rule a bit to make this more clearly an out
People don’t even round that far when going to third
And even when they take a wider path, they drift out that way to round the base, not taking a question mark path.
But they’re allowed to. They’re allowed to run to the foul pole, if they want. Until there’s an actual tag attempt, they’re allowed to run in any direction they like.
There was a tag attempt.
Lol it’s just orioles and jays flairs in here. Idk what the ump is smoking. That dude went off the baseline completely
Jays fans are claiming gunnar didnt attempt to tag, but why would he run towards the runner and move his arm towards him? He could have just thrown to first from where he got the ball. Theres no rule saying how far you must extend your arm to tag. You clearly see his glove move towards him even if its small, its still an attempt
Yeah, I think I’m on your side of this. I missed that part of the game, so I’m just seeing it now, but that movement looks like it counts to me.
Thanks, im not evem angry that we lost now, im just annoyed so many people are acting like gunnar sprinting at him and moving his arm isnt an attempt to tag. Its crazy to me
He took 3 steps to the side to avoid a tag. The tag attempt is happening when he’s in the basepath with the ball I don’t know why people in here are acting cute like he has to swipe at him to establish a base path. Was a bad call and the runner isn’t smart for getting a lucky call he should have stopped running he almost cost his team a run.
Bless your soul sir or madam
A tag attempt is a legitimate effort to touch the runner with the ball. Simply running with the ball does not create a tag attempt.
So the question is, does Henderson’s half-hearted attempt at a swipe when the player was already well wide of him count as a legitimate tag attempt? Umpires clearly felt no.
But even if it was, did Clement deviate three feet in either direction from the straight line created between him and the base when the supposed tag attempt was made? Honestly? I don’t think so. At least not from Sportsnet’s replays.
I think a lot of people are looking at how far away Clement was from the straight line between the bases, but that doesn’t matter.
He attempted to make it look like he tried to tag him but he certainly didn’t attempt to actually tag him.
He was absolutely out of the baseline. Oof
Fortunately, being out of the baseline doesn’t matter. What matters is the base path, which is established when a tag attempt is made. Clement was clearly safe.
Next time I see Nic Lentz on the streets I’m gonna give him the worst noogie ever
Pants him for me
Define the baseline as it applies to this particular rule.
a direct line from clement to the base when gunnar reaches out for the tag
Now, show where Gunnar actually tries to tag him. Gesturing in his general direction is not a tag attempt. Where does he actually try to touch him?
Edit: I didn’t say “downvote me like a passive-aggressive coward if you don’t like it”, I said show me where he tries to tag him. Henderson never gets close to Clement. You can’t make a tag attempt if you’re never near the guy you’re trying to tag.
Bingo
Wow, those commentators are egregiously biased. That was a pretty obvious tag attempt.
No bullshit, he stretches his arm out as he charges and only pulls back because he’s not gonna play chicken with him all the way to the outfield grass and lose the out at 1B
I think if the baserunner went out and touched the foul pole in right field the commentators might have argued that the Orioles player needed to chase him for it to count as a tag attempt.
The funny thing is the baserunner could have potentially accomplished his goal legally by just not running to second base. He’s allowed to stand still and not run towards the defender to give the guy on 3rd time to score.
Exactly, I would have no issue if he just froze but he completely deviates from his lane the moment Henderson locks eyes with him and charges, is a player supposed to just give up on a double play so he can chase down this single runner, clown show
Honestly, that is the rule. You can’t attempt a tag on a player on the other side of the outfield.
Yeah if this were how its supposed to work, then every baserunner should just run towards the grass whenever its close at first and theyre about to be tagged. The fielder will be forced to ‘attempt’ and let 1st get on, or throw to first and let the baserunner do whatever he wants.
We may see that happen a few times as a consequence of how this went.
Well they are the Jays broadcast team, so of course they are biased. The Orioles broadcast team was no less biased.
That said, they do have the rule correct (except it should be called “base path” in this context and not “base line” ). When the tag attempt started can be argued, but he was definitely more than 3ft outside of the base path.
But yeah, I don’t see how he was not called out.
I guess I’m seeing it entirely differently, he looked like he was already around Gunnar when the attempt was made, thus making his basepath start at that spot.
I’ll wait to see if Jomboy does a good breakdown on this.
He pulled back too quick. As soon as he did so, the runner can do what he wants.
Gee must be nice to have the umps gift you runs like that.
Yeah that was fucked
Correct
Lol I respect this reply more than the others I’ve gotten from Jays fans
Absolute horseshit. Biggest deviation from baseline I’ve ever seen on tag attempt not called
Smallest reach I’ve ever seen on a “tag attempt”.
Is reaching your glove out not a tag attempt?
It’s insane that you pretty regularly see umps invent an “obstruction” call on a pitcher or first basemen when there is no impact on the play and yet turn around an allow this.
A lot of y’all don’t know the 3-foot base path rule and you’re just embarrassing yourselves.
Runner is absolutely safe.
Im incredibly biased in favor of the O’s but agree with this call.
Once Gunnar reaches out his arm, runner doesn’t deviated from his established path at all.
When even Yankees fans are defending the Jays of all teams you know you gotta trust it
Lmaoo he was 4 feet out of the fucking baseline not being able to challenge that is insane
The rule is the runner has 3 feet from when the tag is first applied or attempted.
I’m not saying the call was right or wrong but if it is indeed 4 feet just out of the baseline and not just when the tag was applied, it could be a lot more borderline than you’d expect.
Though I agree all calls should be challenged, you almost need like a tape measure to review a call like that also. Maybe technology will get there one day
The base path isn’t established until a tag is attempted. So yes, being 4 feet out of the base path absolutely should be an out
It appears he’s already running to the right when the tag is first indicated to avoid the fielder so the new base line would be set there. The question is whether he deviates 3 feet from that line, not the original one. If there’s a better angle then that would tell the story
Yes, but the path is between the runner and the base, and there has to be an actual attempt at a tag. Where does the defender actually try? The runner is out of reach at the time he waves at him. He never comes close to a tag.
It’s not like the runner has to be within 3 feet of the line between 1st and 2nd base at the time the fielder waves in his general direction or anything.
Even if they could challenge it, I dont think it would get overturned
Out of curiosity, is it because you think the call was correct or because the replay office wouldn’t have definitive evidence to overturn?
I think theres definitely not enough evidence to overturn, but i also think this is a play that ends up pretty firmly in the grey. I do think it’s a pretty defendable call, though i dont think id say slam dunk correct.The fielder does himself no favors with the half hearted tag attempt, so now you’re getting into things like when the tag attempt starts and ends
Glad an umpire is talking about the half-assed glove motion. I fully believe if Henderson fully stuck out the arm, Clement probably gets called out.
Gotcha, thanks!
Ah, my monthly dose of people who are confidently incorrect about what the base path is.
There’s not a rule that the arm has to be FULLY extended to be called an attempt. He ran towards the player and then reached out. The runner did everything he could not to be tagged including being over 3 ft away from the tag. He’s out.
I’m losing my mind at Henderson running at the runner then reaching out being ‘too low effort’ to be a tag attempt. If the Benny Hill theme fits over the scenario where he chases him for the tag then the runner’s out.
So who’s in the wrong here?
I love posts like this. Shows just how many fans have no idea what a base path is.
Or what an attempt at a tag is, apparently.
I like that it’s dodgers and Yankees fans almost exclusively defending the call. Say what you want about either fanbase, you can’t argue they’re uneducated about baseball.
95% of people arguing the call are Orioles fans but people from all over are saying it’s correct
I know the internet isn’t usually the most knowledgeable about calls but, this one is correct
I never defended the call. But you’re right about the base path. I just get a kick out of the once a month or so when people argue about “baselines”.
A lot of folks need to read the rule book.
And now we’re losing and Basallo is hurt. Such BS.
Alby should protest this
there are no protests anymore.
It wouldn’t be upheld even if there was. And there arent protests because they check the rules immediately with new york if there is a rules issue
It’s now 5-4 Blue Jays. This would have ended the inning at 4-1. Absolutely screwed out of this game.
It’s not like the teams are neck and neck in the division either… Brutal missed call by all of the umps
All Henderson needed to do here was extend his arm out all the way, and you can concretely say a tag attempt was made. Look at the 2b ump position - Henderson’s body is blocking view of the glove, the ump can’t see if an attempt is made with that little movement. To the ump it looks as much a tag attempt as it does having a slight stumble while making the throw to first.
As it is here, flicking his arm out a few inches is unable to be confidently discerned as either a tag attempt or a movement resulting from catching and transferring the ball for the throw. In these judgment calls the intent needs to be obvious. Even if review was permitted the call on the field would stand. You would then have to have the reviewers determine the exact moment the tag attempt is made; and then determine if the runner exceeded 3 feet from the baseline created at that moment. That’s how the rule is written, you can’t argue this. Clement started diverting before Henderson was close to him and was running straight towards second when they crossed paths - there is simply no way to make a concrete determination, which is the required evidence to overturn the field call.
Even if the call was out, the verdict on review would be “stands” and not “confirmed.”
“But he’s so focused on the out at first he can’t” nah this is Henderson tunnel visioning on a ultra low chance double play instead of focusing on the lead runner. The run was going to score either way with only one out made at first or second. The ball simply got to him too slowly, and even then he was a half-step away from second base for a force-out when he did catch it. Yet he chose to take the risky play for a tag out, and it didn’t work.
Good baserunning by Clement. He makes an adjustment and establishes a new basepath before Henderson even has the ball.
Yes! Thank you! The runner and the fielder are never anywhere near each other. I don’t know how, like, 80% of the baseball subreddit doesn’t know how base running works. Or what a tag is!
Wow that’s just S tier dumbassery
Lmao it honestly looks like something out of a baseball spoof or something.
Absolutley egregious
This game should be 4-1 going into the seventh, and instead the umps decided to… disregard the rules? Anyway, Jays up 5-4 now on the backs of the umpires. Very cool.
And Basallo hurt too
I mean, that was a pretty pathetic “tag attempt,” base path discrepancy notwithstanding
Yea if he actually attempted, he probably wouldnt get the out at first. People are ignoring that there was no reach for Clement.
Exactly, you can’t have it both ways. Making the tag attempt slows you down.
When a person is now so far away from you. Why waste time continuing to reach? He still had to make an out at first or would risk having no outs called. It was a good play, no way he could reach Ernie once he deviated so far.
I think that’s how Clement got away with it - the first second base umpire saw that and didn’t think that was close to a tag attempt.
Well, that and the fact that when he does gesture weakly at Clement, he’s not within reach of him. The fielder would have to actually change his direction of movement and reach out to attempt a tag, and he does neither. He pumps his glove in a vague manner that never had any chance of making contact with anyone.
That’s the only logical explanation for it because he was clearly beyond 3ft
This entire comment section could be solved by just looking at the actual wording of the rule:
Rule 5.09(b)(1)
(b) Retiring a Runner A runner is out when: (1) He runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged unless his 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 he is attempting to reach safely; or
(b) Retiring a Runner
A runner is out when:
(1) He runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged unless his 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 he is attempting to reach safely; or
Henderson never made a fullson attempt at a tag.
When Henderson made his “tag attempt” Clement was already avoiding him and had already moved off the original line of travel.
It doesn’t even look like Clement moved 3 feet off the original of travel before the “tag attempt”, let alone the one established when Henderson motioned in his direction.
^^^ yep, this is the correct take here.
Who needs rules anyway?
This certainly was a decision by the second base umpire
Inning should have been over 4-1 but instead the O’s are now losing 5-4
[deleted]
Yes, actually. So long as the fielder is never within reach of you to make a tag attempt, you can run wherever you want. The only time the runner’s movement is constrained is when the defender is trying to tag them. And, like, actually trying, not just weakly pumping a fist at them.
You still have to get to the base, but yes
The baseline is set once fielder makes the attempt to get you out which is basically a straight line from where you are at that moment to the next base and you cannot deviate more than 3 ft from that new set. baseline once the tag attempt is first made
Youve likely seen the gambits in high school where a first base runner will run to the outfield and then if the fielder tries to get him out the runner on 3rd will score. It’s a similar idea taken to the extreme. The runner can go where he wants until they try to get him out
there has to be a tag attempt to establish a basepath. runner can’t be called out until that happens.
umpires could have ruled that Gunnar never really tried to tag him. Idk if it’s the right call but that would be their reasoning
How much does he have to do in the attempt other than run at him and extend his glove? If he makes a bigger effort like you would in a pickle you risk losing the out at first.
When Gunnar started to extend his glove Ernie was already deviated to his left and Gunnar seen that and took the risk and assume he’d be called out so he could make the double play. Don’t wanna be a dick but what can a runner do in this situation? Can’t interfere with Gunnar because it’ll be an auto double play since the rules were introduced to prevent fielders from getting layed out. If this was called against the jays I’d be enraged
After watching frame by frame I get the arguments more. What confuses me on the establishing a base path part is how far Clement has to come back from the path to get back to the base. I.e. he actually turns toward the infield at the very start when he sees the ball is gonna be fielded, straightens out, then turns 45° once Gunnar is running at him. If he establishes that new path does he get to scramble four feet back to the base instead of staying on it?
And yea I mean idk what the runner can do in that situation. But runners don’t always have agency. If you get hit by a live ground ball while running you’re out and it’s unlicky. If it’s hit in your running path and fielded it’s unlucky. I get why fans of both teams would be miffed at both calls here.
Seems like a slippery slope if umpires are going to see an outreached glove and determine the intent behind it.
It would seem a slippery slope to call this an automatic out, given he was no where close to Clement, and if he actually had to tag Clement, he’s not getting the runner at first.
The umps have now just taken the lead for the blue jays
actual dogshit call by the umps here.
Clement purposefully gets in Gunnar’s line of sight, then goes out of the baseline. lol
Wombo combo
Even if Gunnar extends his arm all the way Ernie is still way too far from him
MLB replay rules are some of the dumbest in the world. Running out of the baseline should be reviewable.
There’s no baseline to run out of. Lean the rules.
Insane call, and Alby has to get himself run there.
Completely preposterous. Is there no review for this kinda play?
Rule doesn’t really specify what’s required for it to be considered a tag attempt. Gunnar is running towards him, but there’s no intent. He gives a half-assed tag attempt, but by the point he does, Clement has already moved a little bit, and I think you could make the argument that the tag was so weak, an attempt wasn’t actually made to put out the runner. Could he have been 3’ outside the base path? Absolutely he could’ve been, but Gunnar does such a poor job with *gestures vaguely* all of this, that I don’t necessarily disagree with not saying Clement had a base path established as a result of a tag attempt, and even more so, I don’t wholly think he was outside of said base path, which is what makes this nothing, to me
By the time Henderson actually waves at the runner, the runner is out of reach and running straight for 2nd. He’s not outside of the basepath at that time. He does all of his moving out of the way preemptively, which is 100% legal.
The only thing is that, I think it was a few years ago, they changed it so an actual tag attempt isn’t required for it to be considered a tag attempt. If that makes any sense. In any event, it sounds like the umpires deemed his initial deviation was legal (duh) and also that Gunnar was half-assing an attempt to try to draw the violation, which I also agree with, so I’m glad they saw it that way
This won’t be controversial at all
What even is the controversy if the basepath rule is being applied? There’s no grey area here lol
Define the base path, and show us the tag attempt.
You’re right. It’s not even controversial, it’s just obviously wrong lmao
I do not envy those umpires’ online inboxes. This is compounding quickly.
Baseline is not established until there is an attempt to tag.
Correct call. That wasn’t a real tag attempt. That was a half-assed arm extension way too far away from the runner to even consider it an honest attempt. It’s roughly equivalent to the old “honor system” double play where infielders just straddled 2nd base and didn’t actually touch it.
Is the tag in the room with us lol lowest effort play I’ve ever seen
I’m always happy to shit on the umps, but I don’t have any problem with that call. Clement starts running farther out well before the tag attempt is made and then once it is made it doesn’t look like he deviates more than 3 feet.
Henderson clearly isn’t aiming to make the tag and is just making a performative motion before throwing to first. If he actually tried to make the tag then Clement may have moved beyond the 3 feet that’s allowed, but then the runner at first might be safe. Great baserunning from Clement.
??????? What the fuck
Roles reversed we’d probably be pissed too. Baseball is weird.
Looks good to me
I’m not rule smart enough to know whether the no call was that bad or not, but I do think this is another instance of Albernaz not being fast enough to yank a pitcher that we know collapses in a hurry.
A whoooooole lot of Orioles fans in this thread with no understanding of the rules.
Don’t worry O’s fans, for some absolutely unfathomable reason we put in the pitcher you all nearly batted around on Friday after taking the lead
Halfhearted effort is the appropriate style for a halfhearted team like the orioles.
Saltmine.gif
So if there is no attempt at tagging the runner can take whatever path he wants??
Yep, before the “tag attempt” is made, the runner can run to the bullpen gate if he wants
Yes
I don’t know, if that’s whats going to pass as a “tag attempt” then I guess fielders just have to wiggle their glove in the general direction of runners now.
It was the right call, Alonso should be getting shit for being half-assed.
Alby needed to get ejected there ffs
Sports fans always make me laugh. On field officials, broadcasters, etc, that’s clean.
Bunch of online sport drop outs, omg it’s so obvious its off baseline.
God it doesn’t matter what sport lmao why have officials when reddit clearly trumps them all
This reminds me of one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen, which was the infield fly rule on the Braves in the playoffs, agains the Cardinals, I believe in the early 2000s.
Ball was firmly in the dead zone between third base and left field. But definition got was firmly outside of the infield part of the infield fly rule.
So many Jays fans defending this until theyre dying breath but were seething when Naylor tried to block that throw with his body.
Both players were taking actions of a competitive nature. Both were questionable within the rules. Both were questionable with the spirit of the rules.
Suffice to say, the right call was made against Naylor and the wrong call was made here. Its obvious he created his supposed “base path” to avoid the guy with the ball in front of him. To try to argue that he wasnt avoiding a tag that was yet to come is ridiculous, and while you can argue by letter of rule that it could be legal, no one would’ve batted an eye if he were called out. This wouldnt even be a post worth mention.
Obviously I’m biased, but I think this is one of those strange quirky rules. Gunner went for a tag, but for whatever reason the umps were pretty sure it wasn’t a “tag attempt”.
If it’s not a tag attempt, it doesn’t matter how wide Ernie rounded. Now, how a “tag attempt” is defined, I genuinly don’t know.. Sure looks like gunner tried to tag him, even if it was a bit half-assed of a tag
That’s 1,000,000% a tag attempt but the guy was 6’ off the line he had to give up and get the out at first.
He should be out
As a dispassionate observer, my judgement would be that as soon as the fielder 1) has the ball, and 2) even looks at the runner, that is a tag attempt for the purposes of establishing the basepath. And after that fielder looks at the runner, then the runner dodges. I would call the runner out.
Most likely, tho, MLB should clarify a bit more what counts as “a tag attempt”, because I realize that that could reasonably be interpreted several ways. But as far as the spirit of baseball is concerned, the fact that the fielder even looks at the runner should be enough to solidify that runner’s basepath imo.
Don’t we see people sliding into home, missing the play and having to crawl back to touch it? Is the rule different for home plate? Seems like 2nd base didn’t even attempt a tag.