Did Billy McKinney Intend to Advance? When a Batter-Runner Loses Overrun Protection at First Base

Friday's Mets-Nationals game saw New York batter-runner Billy McKinney reach on a fielder's choice and overthrown double play attempt, leading to Washington's Josh Harrison retrieving the ball and tagging McKinney up the right field line. Article: https://www.closecallsports.com/2021/...

With 1B Umpire Adam Hamari ruling McKinney safe, the question becomes at what point does a batter-runner lose their Rule 5.09(b)(4) protection from liability to be put out when tagged after overrunning or oversliding first base?

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(11) is perhaps the clearest rule here: "If [the batter-runner] attempts to run to second they are out when tagged."

So all we must determine is whether or not McKinney (or any batter-runner) attempted to run to second at any point during his overrun. If yes, he should have been declared out. If no, then he was safe when tagged due to his overrun protection.

Contrary to popular rules myth, a batter-runner need not run fully in foul territory to keep their overrun protection nor must a batter-runner turn to their right (toward foul territory) instead of to their left (toward fair territory).

The only consideration for an umpire is whether or not the batter-runner attempted to run to second. It could be a flinch, a step or stride, or other movement or action that indicates this, but it all comes down to whether the umpire has ruled an "attempt" was made to run to second.

Finally, on an overthrown ball, OBR 8.00's General Instructions to Umpires regarding "keep your eye everlastingly on the ball while it is in play" may have interfered with or contributed to the umpires not seeing McKinney's actions until it was too late.