I have a question about baseball rules

[Jake]

Here it is:

Why when say an outfielder catches a fly ball, does a runner on a base immediately run back to the base? Aren't they allowed to walk back to it safely, just like on a foul ball?

Also, can someone explain tagging up to me? I'm kinda confused about it. Let's say that someone catches a ball in center field. If someone is leading off of third, do they have to run back and touch the base and then run home if they want to get a run?

Thanks a lot.

[mojorisin71]

To answer your first question:

If the ball is caught and the runner is caught off base, the outfielder can throw it to the base where the runner was, and if the throw beats him, the runner is out. That's why the runner always runs back to the base when a fly ball is caught.

That being said, the runner can tag up by stepping off the base and tagging it again to advance to the next base, or to score if he's on third base already, provided the ball isn't thrown to the following base.

I hope I've answered your questions satisfactorily.

[Jake]

Yep, you answered it great. Thanks a lot.

[MikeCameronFAN]

Jake - those rules apply for fair and foul territory.

[Jake]

Originally posted by MikeCameronFAN
Jake - those rules apply for fair and foul territory.

Huh? I don't get it. What are you saying?

[Ravenlord]

the rules for runners tagging up and/or advancing apply wheather or not the ball is caught in fair or foul ground.

[Jake]

Originally posted by Ravenlord
the rules for runners tagging up and/or advancing apply wheather or not the ball is caught in fair or foul ground.

I gotcha. Thanks.

[pc0k899]

One thing to remember: Say a runner on first base runs with the pitch and the batter hits a pop-up to the outfield as the runner is rounding second base. The runner MUST touch second base again on the way back to first or he will be called out.

[Utter Chaos]

Originally posted by pc0k899
One thing to remember: Say a runner on first base runs with the pitch and the batter hits a pop-up to the outfield as the runner is rounding second base. The runner MUST touch second base again on the way back to first or he will be called out if the defensive team makes an appeal.

[Bob Hannah]

Originally posted by mojorisin71


That being said, the runner can tag up by stepping off the base and tagging it again to advance to the next base, or to score if he's on third base already, provided the ball isn't thrown to the following base.

I hope I've answered your questions satisfactorily.

Why would the runner attempting to advance step off the base and tag it again if he is already touching the base when the ball is caught?He has already fulfilled his obligation to advance without penalty. (Remember, the defense must appeal such a play if they feel the runner left too soon or failed to retouch the base. The umpire will not offer his judgement unless an appeal is made.) To step off the base and retouch would only take precious steps away from the runner. Also, the runner may continue to advance to the next base whether or not the ball is thrown-he just has to beat the tag at that next base.

[Lenny]

Runners at second and third. fly out to right field, both runners tag up and advance. Defense team appeals to third, runner is called safe. defense then appeals to second. Runner is called out. Offense team argues that the defense team can't appeal more than one base.
Whos is correct?
Thanks.

[Baseball gLove]

Originally Posted by Lenny

Runners at second and third. fly out to right field, both runners tag up and advance. Defense team appeals to third, runner is called safe. defense then appeals to second. Runner is called out. Offense team argues that the defense team can't appeal more than one base.
Whos is correct?
Thanks.

The defense can appeal as many bases as they want, but they better know what they are appealing or they'll piss off the umpire.

[jbooth]

Originally Posted by Lenny

Runners at second and third. fly out to right field, both runners tag up and advance. Defense team appeals to third, runner is called safe. defense then appeals to second. Runner is called out. Offense team argues that the defense team can't appeal more than one base.
Whos is correct?
Thanks.

You can have a possibility of 10 appeals on one play. You can appeal each runner at each base, but you can only appeal a runner ONCE at EACH base.

If an HR is hit with bases loaded, you could make 10 appeals;

the batter at all 4 bases, runner on first at 3, runner on second 2 and runner on third 1.

Those are appeals for failing to touch the base while advancing or returning. With bases loaded on a caught fly ball, the defense may appeal all 3 runners for failure to tag up, AND if the runners advanced beyond the next base, they could also appeal the failure to touch the base they went beyond. So, you could have 6 appeals on that play.

Here's the actual rule in the book;

7.10
Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when --
(a) After a fly ball is caught, he fails to retouch his original base before he or his original base is tagged;
Rule 7.10(a) Comment: “Retouch,” in this rule, means to tag up and start from a contact with the base after the ball is caught. A runner is not permitted to take a flying start from a position in back of his base.

(b) With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is tagged.
APPROVED RULING: (1) No runner may return to touch a missed base after a following runner has scored. (2) When the ball is dead, no runner may return to touch a missed base or one he has left after he has advanced to and touched a base beyond the missed base.
Rule 7.10(b) Comment: PLAY. (a) Batter hits ball out of park or ground rule double and misses first base (ball is dead)—he may return to first base to correct his mistake before he touches second but if he touches second he may not return to first and if defensive team appeals he is declared out at first.
PLAY. (b) Batter hits ball to shortstop who throws wild into stand (ball is dead)—batter-runner misses first base but is awarded second base on the overthrow. Even though the umpire has awarded the runner second base on the overthrow, the runner must touch first base before he proceeds to second base. These are appeal plays.

An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play.
Successive appeals may not be made on a runner at the same base. If the defensive team on its first appeal errs, a request for a second appeal on the same runner at the same base shall not be allowed by the umpire. (Intended meaning of the word “err” is that the defensive team in making an appeal threw the ball out of play. For example, if the pitcher threw to first base to appeal and threw the ball into the stands, no second appeal would be allowed.)

If a pitcher balks when making an appeal, such act shall be a play. An appeal should be clearly intended as an appeal, either by a verbal request by the player or an act that unmistakably indicates an appeal to the umpire. A player, inadvertently stepping on the base with a ball in his hand, would not constitute an appeal. Time is not out when an appeal is being made.

[Thor]

One other reason to tag up is to force the defensive player catching the ball to make a accurate and strong throw back to the infield. Sometimes a poor throw allows the runner to advance/score.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Bob Hannah

Why would the runner attempting to advance step off the base and tag it again if he is already touching the base when the ball is caught?He has already fulfilled his obligation to advance without penalty. (Remember, the defense must appeal such a play if they feel the runner left too soon or failed to retouch the base. The umpire will not offer his judgement unless an appeal is made.) To step off the base and retouch would only take precious steps away from the runner. Also, the runner may continue to advance to the next base whether or not the ball is thrown-he just has to beat the tag at that next base.

I think he means that if the runner doesn't know if the ball will be caught, he can take a few steps towards the next bag. Then if caught, he can go back and tag the bag before advancing.

I might be wrong though.

[Stumanji]

I do recall a play in which Rickey Henderson, on third base, actually went behind 3rd, down the left-field line by 10-15 feet on a fly ball to left.

A second before it was caught, he started his sprint for home, hitting the base just as the outfielder caught the ball. Already in his stride, the outfielder had no chance at getting him out.

Is this against the rules?


(FYI - I believe the home plate umpire ruled in favor the defense, and called Henderson out).

[jbooth]

Originally Posted by Stumanji

I do recall a play in which Rickey Henderson, on third base, actually went behind 3rd, down the left-field line by 10-15 feet on a fly ball to left.

A second before it was caught, he started his sprint for home, hitting the base just as the outfielder caught the ball. Already in his stride, the outfielder had no chance at getting him out.

Is this against the rules?


(FYI - I believe the home plate umpire ruled in favor the defense, and called Henderson out).

You must not have read my post above where I posted the rule;

Rule 7.10(a) Comment: “Retouch,” in this rule, means to tag up and start from a contact with the base after the ball is caught. A runner is not permitted to take a flying start from a position in back of his base.

[Jake Patterson]

Originally Posted by jbooth

You must not have read my post above where I posted the rule;

Rule 7.10(a) Comment: “Retouch,” in this rule, means to tag up and start from a contact with the base after the ball is caught. A runner is not permitted to take a flying start from a position in back of his base.

BTW I would recommend Jom Booth's book on rules. If interested PM him.