Q #2: A batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop. He beats the throw to first base. After running through the base, the runner veers to his left--rather than running straight down the foul line or moving to the right of the foul line. Seeing that, the first baseman immediately applies the tag on the batter-runner. You are the base umpire. Do you call the batter out?
A #2: Whether the runner veers left or right is not the determining factor. The umpire must decide whether the runner made an attempt to advance to second base. If an attempt to advance was made, then the runner would be called out. If no attempt was made to advance, regardless of which way he veered, the runner would be called safe on this play. In any event, runners should veer slightly right of the foul line to remove all doubt!
A #2: Whether the runner veers left or right is not the determining factor. The umpire must decide whether the runner made an attempt to advance to second base. If an attempt to advance was made, then the runner would be called out. If no attempt was made to advance, regardless of which way he veered, the runner would be called safe on this play. In any event, runners should veer slightly right of the foul line to remove all doubt!
