We've seen the new slide rule applied several times this season in game-changing fashion, but it didn't happen Tuesday night in D.C.

The Tigers and Nationals were tied in a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the top of the sixth. Tigers infielder Andrew Romine hit a slow grounder to second which got Washington a force at second but there was no way they had time to turn two. So the go-ahead run crossed the plate.

But did Anthony Gose violate MLB's new slide rule?

Gose slides right past the bag without even attempting to touch it. Per the new rule, a slide in this case is legal if the following conditions are satisfied:

  1. He begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base;
  2. He is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;
  3. He is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and
  4. He slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

The bolding there is mine because -- while I have no doubt that Gose probably could have touched the base -- he definitely didn't attempt to reach it. Watch the visuals:

Gose didn't make contact with the pivot-man nor did he break up what would have been a double play. Basically, in the old days, no one would have even thought twice about this.

Of course, under the new rule, didn't Gose clearly violate the number two part? It seems obvious that he did. If it was determined during the replay process that he did, Romine would have been out and the inning would have been over with a 3-3 tie. Instead, the officials determining the review ruled that Gose didn't commit a violation here and the call was upheld.

MLB announced that the reason the call wasn't overturned was that Gose didn't impede the progress of the fielder. I agree. He didn't. Gose very clearly didn't affect the outcome of the play at all.  He did, however, seem to violate a central component of the rule.

That being said, Gose didn't make contact with the defender. Perhaps if the slide doesn't appear to have malicious intent and the runner makes no contact, these kinds of slides will fly moving forward. It's the first year for the rule and it's still a learning process.

The Tigers would score another run in that inning and win the game, 5-4. C'est la vie.