ASA Runner called out base line

[PCMAY]

Runner called out of base path

Had a situation occur the other night which I wasn't sure how to argue. Fortunately, it had no bearing on the outcome of the game.

We had runners on 2nd and 1st and our batter hit a ground ball to SS. As the runner advanced from 2nd the SS bobbled the ball but picked it up with his bare hand just as the runner was passing him. However, he extended his gloved hand (without the ball) in an attempt to tag the runner. The runner jumped sideways avoiding the glove tag and arrived at 3rd safely.

But as the runner arrived at 3rd base the umpire called him out for being out of the basepath. Since the SS did not have the ball in his glove when he attempted to tag the runner, would the runner be considered out due to being out of the base path?

 

[Gulf Coast Blue]

I would not have called it. Look up the definition of tag.

 

[Gulf Coast Blue]

If the defender did not meet the definition of a tag, the runner could have run to center field and still been good.

 

[PCMAY]

That is what I was thinking. Since no tag was actually attempted, the "base path" was not established. Consequently, there was no violation of the 3' limitation.