Nats’ Dave Martinez decries ‘brutal’ baseline call in wild loss

Washington manager Dave Martinez began his postgame availability by holding up a picture that showed Meyers running on the grass on his way to first.

“There it is right there,” Martinez said. “Take a look at it. Is that on the line? I don’t think so. I’m over this play. Seriously. They need to fix the rule. If this is what the umpire sees that he’s running down the line, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of it. Fix it. We lost the game, and he had nothing to say about it because he can’t make the right call. Brutal.”

Ignoring the specific call here the general issue is a hobby horse of mine.  I don’t understand why MLB doesn’t implement the softball base rule Put a “runner’s base” on the foul side of first base.  Right now there is just no way for a runner to stay in the runner’s lane and touch the base.