Advantageous 4th Out

[cbfoulds]

Originally posted by DG
I agree that BR may continue to run to 1B, but if he does not there could be an advantageous 4th out by the defense that could nullify a run. But I have seen no case play or ruling that would allow a runner who has advanced to another base to return to a missed base to erase a base running error, and thus an advantageous 4th out, after the 3rd out is made, especially a runner who was putout for the 3rd out, which was the original post.

Neither have I seen any case play or ruling that would prohibit a runner [who is not otherwise out] from erasing a baserunning error/ 4th out situation, nor have you supplied one [I've asked twice - I think we may take it as given that there are none].

As for the original post, recall that I was one of those who held that the putout runner could NOT return, for the precise reason that he was ALREADY OUT: I argued only with the proposition that it was necessary to engage in any logical gymnastics about rules specifing what team was on offense or defense at the time, or when an inning ends.