Quote:
Originally posted by Rich Ives
I disagree that a tag of the runner in and of itself is an unmistakable appeal. Tagging a runner returning to first is common. Some do it routinely. Some are looking for a call based on an attempt to go to 2B. Some are doing it because they think the runner did not "immediately" return.
An appeal for a missed base must be unmistakable - therefore the fielder must announce why he is tagging the runner.
And SDS, as an example of why a tag is not in and of itself an unmistakable appeal. Bases loaded, Batter hits a double, leaving runners at 2B and 3B. Some runner missed some base. You need to identify which runner and which base.
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Rich, you're the most knowledgeable coach I've ever seen on the rules but you're being too cute here. Your last example of the bases loaded double involves multiple runners, possibly missing mutiple bases. The original situation involved just one runner and just one base, therefore the situations are not even remotely similar.
In good baseball (not Little League) contrary to your assertion, fielders don't "routinely" tag runners returning to first base. Tagging a runner returning to first, in all levels that I work, is an unmistakeable appeal. Failure to call the BR out at this point is malpractice on the part of the umpire. In other words, only a Little League umpire would fail to recognize this appeal.