[DG]

Originally posted by dddunn3d
Emerling:
"If you think about it - it seems more fair (especially to the defense) that a BR *not* be able to remove force plays by entering his dugout."

I agree 100%. Consider this sitch (forgive the TWP aspects):

Bases loaded, no outs. B1 hits a slow roller to F6, who bobbles the ball, but manages to fire a bullet to F2 for the force out at home. All well and good, but BR sees that R3 is dead-meat, so he takes off for his dugout, reaching it before F6 makes his throw. If BR is called out for abandonment, then the force out at home becomes a tag play, which given the circumstances, is substantially more difficult to accomplish.

If we allow the forces to be removed by calling BR out for abandonment, then an unfair advantage is gained by unorthodox play by the offense.

This may be the best 3rd world play I have ever heard, a batter who is actually thinking about anything other than running to 1B after hitting a ball to SS.