By: Ron Bing, Puritas League, Cleveland, Ohio
This is simply a quick list as to whether a fielder has the option to tag the base, or if he must tag the 1) Any runner who has to run because there is a force play in affect (i.e. runner on first and a ground 2) Any time a runner leaves the base he is on before a fly ball or line drive is caught, and is 3) A passed ball or wild pitch on strike three, and the batter attempts to run to first (the batter can 4) When a batter hits a ground ball and the fielder throws to first. Fielder Must Tag the Runner 1) Whenever the runner coming into the base is not in a force play situation (i.e. the only runner on 2) Any runner trying to steal, or any runner trying to advance on a wild pitch or passed ball. On a 3) Any runner who runs or slides safely past a base and is attempting to get back (i.e. batter hits a 4) Any runner caught in a run down between two bases. 5) Any runner who correctly tags up on a fly ball and is attempting
to advance to the next base. 6) Runner starts to steal a base but changes his mind and is now trying to get back to the base he 7) If two runners are on the same base at the same time, the first runner to get to the base is entitled 8) On any pick off attempt, the runner must be tagged. 9) If a runner is in a force play situation prior to a pitch, but the batter hits a ground ball to the fielder In summary, whenever a runner doesn't have a choice, the fielder can tag the base or the runner. If
Date: March 29, 1998 at 14:19
runner. All of your fielders should know these inside and out, because if they have to think about it,
chances are they will make a mistake on the field.
Fielder Can Tag the Runner or the Base
ball is hit, runner on first must run to second and is in a force play situation; or runners on first and
second and a ground ball is hit, both runners are in a force play situation; runners on first and third,
runner on first has to run, runner on third does not).
attempting to get back to the base.
only run to first if first base is empty, or if there are two outs).
base is on second, and a ground ball is hit. If the runner on second tries for third he is not in a force
play situation, and must be tagged in order to be put out).
pick-off move the fielder must tag the runner coming back to the base.
double and starts to go to third, but changes his mind and is attempting to get back to second as the
throw comes in; or batter runs to first and makes a turn for second, then attempts to get back to the
base).
just left.
to it, the second runner must return to his previous base if the first runner does not advance any
further.
at that base and he tags the base; if the runner tries to come back to that base he must be tagged
out. In this situation, after the fielder tagged the base, if he then threw to the next base trying to get
the runner there, the force play is no longer in effect, and the runner must be tagged.
a runner leaves a base before a fly ball is caught, he has no choice but to try and get back; a runner
on first must run to second on a ground ball; and a batter has no choice but to run to first on a
ground ball. When the runner has a choice you must tag him. When a pitcher attempts to pick a
runner off, the runner has a choice to go to the next base, or try and get back to the base he was on;
when he hits a double and then changes his mind about trying for third, he still has a choice between
going back or moving to the next base; and when a runner slides past a base after touching it and is
trying to get back on it, he still has a choice if he wants to get up and go to the next base. In most
situations, the fielder usually has to tag the runner.