Runner in wrong base direction
2016/7/15 16:49:23
Question
Runners are on 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Batter hits a pop up to left field that is caught. Runner at second does not tag up and everyone is yelling at her to get back to second. Ball is thrown to second but is not caught. Runner is back to base before ball reaches second base. Runner at second is called "safe" and runner at third base has now tagged up and gone home. Runner at second base did not hear the umpire call her "safe" and thinks she is out and starts to walk back to dugout via first base direction by about 3 to 4 steps off second base. Everyone is yelling at her again to get back on base that she is safe. Ball is with second baseman who is standing on 2nd base, but 2nd baseman never tags the runner before she gets back on 2nd base. Question - since the runner had already taken possession of 2nd base, and got back to the bag to tag up before the ball reached the base, does this removes any force play? Even though there is a runner on first, and even though the 2nd base runner did take a couple of steps towards first and then retreated back to 2nd base, is there a force on her or is the 2nd baseman required to tag her out? And is there a rule for her starting to walk in the wrong directions back towards first base (even though it was just a few steps) before she realized she wasn't out and she got back on second?
Answer
Hi Katleen,
There is no force play on anyone on the this play because the batted ball was caught for an out. A live ball appeal(throwing to the defense to touch the base before the runner returns) for leaving a base early on a caught fly ball is not a force play.
R2 once she retouched 2nd must now be tagged while off base to get an out.
Nope, no rule she can't be of base by a few steps back in the direction of 1st.
Nothing in your question has an out here.
Mark
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