Baseball

brush

(53,776 posts) Thu Jul 8, 2021, 04:32 AM Jul 2021

A question about a fielder taking a throw at a base for an out.

Say at third base, the throw from right field pulls the third baseman several feet from the bag. A runner is coming in from second trying to beat the throw. Can the third baseman catch the ball and dive back to the bag and just touch the base with the ball in his glove, or does he have to tag the runner?

I'm wondering about this since second baseman/shortstop doesn't have to tag the runner when turning a double play, he/she just has to touch the bag when making the pivot and throw to first.

And what about a first baseman fielding a grounder who dives back to first and touches the bag with his glove?

4 replies

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A question about a fielder taking a throw at a base for an out. (Original Post) brush Jul 2021 OP

It depends on whether it is a forced out or not. padfun Jul 2021 #1

Thank you. I love a person who know their baseball. brush Jul 2021 #2

No, he has to touch the runner. padfun Jul 2021 #3

There are some scenarios like this on YouTube. Patterson Jul 2021 #4

padfun

(1,786 posts)

1. It depends on whether it is a forced out or not.

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Jul 8, 2021, 04:46 AM

Jul 2021

If there was a runner on first and second when the ball was hit, then all the Third baseman has to do is to touch the bag with any part of his body once the ball is in his hand. If there was only a man on second and NOT on first when the ball was hit, then he has to tag the runner.

One way to tell is ask this. Can the runner return back to the base he was at? I mean without two players being on the base at one time. If he can return back to the base, then it is not a forced out. If all bases were full behind him. then it is a forced out.

And yes, a first baseman can ALWAYS just touch the bag with is glove, providing the ball is in that glove.

brush

(53,776 posts)

2. Thank you. I love a person who know their baseball.

Reply to padfun (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 8, 2021, 06:08 AM

Jul 2021

One other question: The batter is trying to stretch a double into a triple. The throw pulls the third baseman away from the bag. Can he just dive back to the bag and touch it with the ball in his glove to beat the sliding runner?

There's no one else on and the runner is in the act of sliding.

padfun

(1,786 posts)

3. No, he has to touch the runner.

Reply to brush (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 8, 2021, 06:35 AM

Jul 2021

Again, its not a forced out. The runner could stop in his tracks and go back to second, which does actually happen. So he has to go for the runner, while the runner goes for the base.