When is B1 out on desertion?

[Carl Childress]

Here was a play from an earlier thread:

R1,R2, no outs. B1 hits a Texas-leaguer to shallow LF. F6 races back, stretches out, and gloves the ball but drops it as he falls to the ground. U3 calls "safe, no catch," but not very demonstrative. No IFF called because of the extraordinary effort to even get to the ball.

Runners hold thinking it was caught. (F6 is shielding the runner's view of the ball on the ground.) BR actually trots back to his dug-out(1B side) thinking he's out. F6 gets up, throws to F5, starting the triple play.

Here's my question:

If the BR entered the dug-out before the above action, being called out for abandonment, does that remove the forces at 2B and 3B? I believe it does.

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There was much talk on both sides. I myself was only half right. I knew the BR was out the instant he entered the dugout. But I posted the force would remain in effect.

In the next few days, I changed my mind. Since in my first post I had used the term "desertion" to explain a batter-runner's abandonment of running the bases before he touched first (a term borrowed from Rick Roder), I thought I'd just ask him.

I copied the play and then said: "I suggested common sense would carry the day: When B1 goes into the dugout, call him out. Other runners are out if tagged off base."

Rick replied as follows:

Hi, Carl:

The play question you had is answered on page 47 of Jaksa/Roder; the BR is out for what I call "desertion" (abandonment before touching first base) as soon as he enters the dugout. At that point the force is, of course, removed and runners [are] out if tagged as you mentioned. Going from memory; I can't get to the computer your email was on! But I hope that answers your question. Let me know if I can help further.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now, everybody with a Jaksa/Roder knew the batter-runner was out when he entered the dugout. But did his out remove the force?

To be fair to us all, on page 47 Rick does not say the batter's out removes the force.

But the gentleman who posted the question used his common sense - and got the right answer the first time: BR is out, runners advance at their own risk - and must be tagged for an out.

Now, if you want to take issue with Rick, do so. Create all the third-world plays you want. You know, the good ones where the offense gets an advantage when the BR goes into the dugout.

One thing I'm sure of: I don't have to come back to this thread - except to read the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.