tag up/appeal

Question
Runner on 2nd, no outs, fly to outfield, R2 leaves before caught, now heads back to second. The ball beats him to bag, so he is out. Is he out because this is a force? or is he out just because he has to tag up after ball is caught?    Now say he just kept running and scored, would it have to be appealed that he left early? Or could ump call him out if they just throw ball to second base (since he did not get back to base before ball got there)?  

Answer
Hi Jan,

1) no this is not a force out.  You can only have a FO if the runner  looses the right to occupy the base because the batter became a b-r.  The batter here is out, so no b-r, plus no trailing runner to force R1 even if there was a b-r. R1 never lost the right to occupy the base.  

The runner is out because they left too early on a caught fly ball and there is a rule against that.  A throw to 2nd here before the runner can return is considered a "live ball appeal" of a base left too early and is a "timing play".  It is never a force out.  Had there been a runner on 3rd and they scored before the appeal of the runner at 2nd the run would count even if the appeal was the 3rd out.

2) yes an appeal by the defense is needed.  "Blue, R1 left early" since the runner scored and if time is called this would be a "dead ball appeal" and no throw is necessary to 2nd.

3) no, unless the play is dictating to the umpire what the situation is, caught fly ball, umpire saw early leave, runner hustling back, defense hustling to get ball to 2nd, etc. just a throw to 2nd is not enough, an "unintentional" appeal is not a valid appeal.  You must make known to the umpire what the appeal is.

Mark