tagging-up

[UmpireErnie]

Leaving a base too soon is an appeal play. In a live ball appeal the defense need only touch the bag with the ball in possession to get the out.

In a typical left too soon live ball appeal it is obvious to all why the defense is throwing to/touching the base. Defensive players are yelling “No tag! Two, two!” while the runner is scampering back to the bag. But in your original post (the defense throwing to 3B first then throwing to 2B) I would want more info. Did the fielder at 2B try to tag the runner? Maybe the defense is just playing on this runner in a run down, oblivious to the fact that they can appeal her leaving 2B to soon.

Let me expand your play a bit for the sake of discussion.

PLAY: R1 at 2B, no out. B2 pops up to F8. R1 does not tag up and is running to 3B. F8 throws to F5 ahead of R1. R1 turns and retreats toward 2B. F5 throws to F4 who attempts to tag R1, but R1 slides in under the tag. F4 was in contact with 2B when she caught the ball.

RULING: Safe! Nothing the defense did tells me they are appealing R1 leaving 2B too soon. They are just trying to make a tag play on a runner off base. If the defense now wants to appeal it is too late as R1 has now returned to the base prior to a valid appeal being made.