Quote:
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Originally Posted by canadaump6
R3, 2 out. Passed ball gets by the catcher and R3 passes home plate, but fails to touch it. He goes into the dugout, assuming that he has touched it. The catcher walks maybe 20 feet from home plate. Then the defensive coach tells his catcher to touch home plate because the runner missed it. Now the runner gets out of the dugout, and gets in a foot race with the catcher towards home plate.
Two questions:
1) Is the runner out for abandonment?
2) Does the runner have the opportunity to touch home now that he is in the dugout?
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1) No
2) No
The defense must make a live ball appeal. You cannot have abandonment for simply missing home plate. Once in the dugout, the runner is not allowed to return. If the runner had not yet reached the dugout prior to an appeal and realized that he missed the base and made an attempt to go back, then the runner must be tagged. If the runner reaches the dugout or shows indifference to the miss, the catcher merely needs to step on the plate and make his appeal.