[greymule]

Thanks.

OK. Guy hits one off the fence, misses 1B, touches 2B, slides into 3B, throw goes into dugout. I say, "Dead ball," and watch the runner. If he starts for home, I say he's awarded home. If he starts to retrace his steps, I wait until he touches 2B and is on his way back to 1B and then award him home.

What if, after the ball goes into DBT, his team exhorts him to retouch 1B. If he is then running back toward 2B but has not yet touched it, can I announce that he is awarded home? Or should I keep my mouth shut until he gets into a "safe" area (i.e., not on or beyond the first awarded base)?