running out of the baseline

Question
If there are runners at first and second and the ball is hit to the shortstop who is in the baseline between second and third and the base runner runs out of the baseline to avoid the tag are they out or safe?

Answer
David,

The short answer to your question is yes!  Here is how it works.

First you have to look at the definition of what the the "baseline".  Commonly it is thought to be a direct line between the bases.  This isn't so.  The baseline is a direct line from the runners current position to the base they are going to.  The lines heading up the sides of the field from home plate to first and third are not base lines.  They are simply the lines that define the playing field and are used to determine if a ball is fair or foul.  The line to first base can have more meaning than that if you have a batter running to first on the fair side of the line and they interfere with the F3's ability make a play.    

When a runner is advancing and the defense has the ball and the runner deviates more than three feet from that direct line of where they are at to where they are going to avoid a tag, then yes the runner is out for "running out of the baseline".

Tom