Quote:
Originally posted by CecilOne
Right, but why is the force removed if the BR has already reached 1st? Does she have a "right" to 2nd?
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The reason it is a force is because the immediate preceding runners have no safe haven and must leave the base to allow for the BR. If the BR/R is ruled out, then there is an unoccupied base which, if for some odd reason, is available for a runner to return.
The same reason as when you have a runner forced to vacate 1B and a runner who refuses, though forced, to advance to 3B and both end up on 2B. The defense can force the runner at 3B or tag that runner while in contact with 2B. However, if the runner coming from 1B attempts to retreat (to an occupied base) and is tagged while off the base, the preceding runner is no longer forced to go to 3B and if they attempted to do so, the runner would have to be tagged off the base to be declared out.