was a force play, became a tag play ?

[_Bruno_]

hi,
strange situation today.
R1,R2, 0 outs.
double steal and the batter hit a hig hflyball into leftfield.
R2, already behind 3rdbase thinks that the ball will be caught and runs back toward 2ndbase (to tag up) but the ball drops and the throw beats R2 to 3rdbase.

the offensive coach argues that R2 had already touched 3rdbase and he needs to be tagged out instead of just touching 3rdbase.

defensive coach says that he still has to run to 3rdbase and so its still a force play, despite the fact that R2 touched 3rdbase before.

whats the correct ruling ?
force play at 3rdbase oder is a tag at R2 necessary ?

[ChucktownBlue]

If he's being "forced" to 3B, it's still a force. He abandoned the base to return, and the force out is still applicable.

Try this on.... same sitch. When ball drops, can R2 just run straight to home plate since he already touched 3B? He'd still be touching the bases in order...

Of course he can't. Once the base is abandoned to return, the first touch never happened.

[_Bruno_]

maybe a bad description.

R2 touched 3rdbase and was on his way to home. then he thought the the ball might get caught and touched 3rd on his way back to 2nd (this was all correct by R2).

is there any rule who describes this ?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by _Bruno_

maybe a bad description.

R2 touched 3rdbase and was on his way to home. then he thought the the ball might get caught and touched 3rd on his way back to 2nd (this was all correct by R2).

is there any rule who describes this ?

7.08(e) is the OBR reference

[DG]

Originally Posted by _Bruno_

R2 touched 3rdbase and was on his way to home. then he thought the the ball might get caught and touched 3rd on his way back to 2nd (this was all correct by R2).

is there any rule who describes this ?

Force is reinstated when he touches 3B on his way back to 2B.

He shouldn't be thinking, his 3B coach should be doing his job.

[UmpLarryJohnson]

yep force back in affect once he goes back inside that bag

[mbyron]

7.08(e) is the correct reference. Here's the applicable sentence.

Originally Posted by rulebook

However, if the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced.

Note that the force is reinstated when R2 heads back to 2B, whether or not he touches 3B on his way back to 2B.

[ChucktownBlue]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Note that the force is reinstated when R2 heads back to 2B, whether or not he touches 3B on his way back to 2B.

Well, that's a whole different problem......

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by ChucktownBlue

Well, that's a whole different problem......

But not one that makes a difference for this play: assuming BR and R1 reach their advance bases on the outfielder's error, there would be no way to appeal the missed base without recording a force out on R2.