Can forced runner retreat along baseline?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by greymule

"If I was F5 I would just go tag 3B when runner gave up on trying to reach, since there is no hope of getting a DP, get the lead runner easily."

If the play presents itself, you can run R2 back a few steps, throw to 2B for the force on R1, and then you have R2 trapped.

If F5 spends time running R2 back he probably won't get the force at 2B. If F5 throws it right away F4 will turn for the DP and R2 will make it to 3B as F5 is somewhere else.

[greymule]

Disagree. I've seen this play more than once. F5 doesn't have to run R2 back very far—just enough. If R2 is about halfway to 3B when F5 throws to F4, there should be time to get R2. Obviously, the throws have to be quick, so you don't see the play at levels where F6 is still cutting off F2's throws to 2B with a runner on 3B.

It's the same as R1, ground ball to F4, who attempts to tag R1. (We've all seen plays in which F4 attempts to tag R1 rather than throw to F6 at 2B.) R1 backs up to delay the tag. The play is to throw to 1B to get the BR and then play on R1.

Obviously, if R2 has progressed far enough toward 3B, the play isn't going to be possible. It requires a ground ball to F5's left, with the "confrontation" with R2 occurring quickly.

[UmpTTS43]

Somewhat related. Don't have books on me but could someone give me the reference for OBR saying it is legal for BR to retreat towards 1st. I know where it is in NCAA, but not in OBR.

Thanks

[UmpJM]

UmpTT,

I presume you meant to say a "BR to retreat towards Home Plate", rather than 1B?

If so, it's in the MLBUM (nothing is said on the subject in the text of the rules themselves).

NOTE: In situations where the batter-runner gets in a rundown between first and home, if the batter-runner retreats and reaches home plate, he shall be declared out.

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

UmpTT,

I presume you meant to say a "BR to retreat towards Home Plate", rather than 1B?

If so, it's in the MLBUM (nothing is said on the subject in the text of the rules themselves).



JM

Would not be a lot of point to doing it unless defense has completely forgotten about other runners and they are advancing like crazy while BR backs up toward HP. But it has to end somewhere, so thus the ruling.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UmpTTS43

Somewhat related. Don't have books on me but could someone give me the reference for OBR saying it is legal for BR to retreat towards 1st. I know where it is in NCAA, but not in OBR.

Thanks

If it were illegal, it would be stated as such in the rules. As no rule prohibits it, the MLBUM interpretation is used to determine at what point to declare the runner out.

[johnnyg08]

Yep, remember, if it's not in there, it's probably not illegal.

[UmpTTS43]

Thanks JM. I knew I read it somewhere.