Another dumb situation - what is the rule?

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2br02b

Trabant swing
Jul 25, 2017
303
43
Runner on third - no other runners on base. Batter hits a pop up - almost perfectly straight up. Ball goes so high that batter is on 2nd before it was catchable. I have never seen a pop up that high and so perpendicular to the ground... Catcher, 1B and pitcher are all standing about 4 feet in front of home plate and the catcher misses the ball. Our runner on 3rd could not make it home as the ball was close to home, so she retreated to 3B.

Here is my question. This did not happen and likely will never happen, and I am not advocating trying it - but now that I've thought about it...

What would have been the call if the runner on third, had run all the way home, touched the plate, then circled back towards third (in foul territory) rather than going into the (3rd base) dugout? In this instance she would have had time to get over half way to third before the catch would have been made.

If the ball was caught, could she still tag up? - I assume yes - if she could beat the throw.

If the ball was not caught, could she then walk into the dugout, having already crossed home plate?
 
Last edited:
May 1, 2018
659
63
So tag home to score then retreat just in case she needs to tag? I actually don't know. lol
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I'm sure the Umps will know, but if she crossed home and went past it I'm pretty sure she would have to retouch it if she wanted to get back to third on the catch. It's pretty common to see this on deep fly balls where the runner rounds second. I've never witnessed it at home.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
So if I'm parsing this right, you're thinking that by touching home plate and immediately turning back toward third, she's not really "passing" home, and thus wouldn't have to re-touch to tag up?

I don't think that's how it works. I'm pretty sure you "pass" home plate with your first step after touching it, even if that step is not in the direction in a straight line from third through home. So she'd probably still have to re-tag home on her retreat to third if the ball is caught.
 
Mar 6, 2018
150
28
if she circles back into foul territory i think she's putting herself out as if going to the dugout. I'm certain you have to retag the base you crossed (home). If you retreat then you're putting yourself at risk of being put out again. You would need to return back to 3rd if the ball is caught. If it drops and you're between bags you are in no man's land
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
Teach your runners that as soon as the ball is popped up if you are on third with less than 2 outs. to retreat to the bag. You should never ever get doubled off of third on a popup.
 
Mar 1, 2016
195
18
Bases have to be touched in reverse order if the ball is caught. Once she touched home it really doesn’t matter what direction she turned, she is considered to have passed it. In order to be safe, she would have to come back to home, touch it, and then retreat to third before the ball gets there. The only time it would be a good idea to send her from third on a pop up like that would be if there were two outs.

If the ball isn’t caught, no need to tag up. She would be considered safe after crossing the plate.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
To start, I find it hard to believe a batter-runner hit a ball then completed a run of more than 120' by the time the ball descended to earth. :)

AFA R1 touching the plate, if the runner passes the plate, she must retouch the plate prior to returning to 3B. If the runner literally stops on the plate and heads back to 3B, she has possibly placed herself back into jeopardy. The reason I said possibly is because you have now placed the umpire in the position of determining whether the runner was still running the bases or completed their running tasks. Someone is not going to be happy no matter which way the umpire rules
 

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