Bona Fide Slide Recap as Sox Turn Two on Tigers' INT

When 2B Umpire John Tumpane, prior to Replay Review, ruled Tigers baserunner R1 Jeimer Candelario out at second base as well as batter-runner Miguel Cabrera for his teammate's interference by virtue of failing to make a legal bona fide slide, we found not just our first application of Official Baseball Rule 6.01(j) during the 2022 regular season, but a very clear example of a slide that violates this rule.

As we review MLB's bona fide slide rule, we find there are four general criteria regarding slides on double play attempts, as in OBR 6.01(j):

1) Runner begins to slide and makes contact with the ground before reaching the base;

2) Runner is able and attempts to reach the base with a hand or foot;

3) Runner is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home) after completing the slide; and

4) Runner slides within reach without changing path for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

The soft-fifth requirement, as it were, was added in 2016 and states that the violative slide must have impeded or interfered with the fielder from completing a double play.

Related Post: MLB Adds Impediment to Bona Fide Slide Rule Interpretation (5/18/16).

Friday in Detroit, any befuddlement regarding Tumpane's 6th inning-ending ruling can easily be cleared up by extracting criterion three: runner Candelario slid past second base, which means he failed to remain on the base after completing the slide, which is an illegal slide pursuant to OBR 6.01(j).

3) He is able and attempts to remain on the base. [NO]

Although not as egregious as other slide interference plays from over the years, this nonetheless is a proper on-field ruling (confirmed via Replay Review) of a double play due to slide rule interference.

NCAA force play slide rule 8-4 requires runners to "slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two bases" while NFHS largely echoes college's FPSR requirement.

Related Play: NCAA CWS - Force Play Slide Rule Negates LSU Run (6/27/17).

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Tump calls for DP after illegal slide past the 2B bag (DET)