Quote:
Originally posted by greymule
So on the two-out bases-loaded game-winning home run with the score tied, if the runner from 1B misses 2B, he can be called out on appeal and the run will be nullified because that's a force play. If he does not miss second but simply fails to advance and touch it, that's not a force play, and the run scores as long as R3 touches home and the batter touches 1B.
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Mule:
No, that's not what I said. That's not what authoritative opinion says.
During a force, any consecutive runner who abandons his advance base is not a force out. However, an appeal of the abandoned base as a missed base can be upheld for an advantageous fourth out. (see second example below). (J/R, 5th ed., p. 24)
Here's the "second example below":
R3, R1, game tied at 2-2, bottom of the ninth inning, 2 outs. Base hit. R3 touches home plate as the apparent winning run and the batter-runner touches first, but R1 goes to join in the celebration at home plate without advancing to (or near) [my emphasis] second base: technically, R1 is out for abandonment, but this is not a force out, and the run can score. If the defense were to appeal that R1 had not touched second, there would be a force out, and no run. Hence, the umpire should not declare an out until the defense appeals the missed base.
Calling out the runner would result in: (1) The defense thinking no appeal was available; or (2) The umpire alerting the defense to the fact that an appeal was available at second. The statement that the umpire should not declare an out before an appeal is, therefore, simply a mechanics admonition, not a statement of a current "interpretation."
The comment "or near" is merely recognition that a runner who reaches a base is considered to have touched the base unless the defense appeals an actual miss.
Obtaining a copy of the J/R would vastly simplify your learning OBR rules and current practice.