Where does the rule book ever say a runner has no right to retreat from a base? There are statements about travesty and purposely running bases in reverse order but as long as it wasn't done intentionally it is nothing. And I will ask again, what difference does it make if it is a runner taking advancing to 2nd to draw a throw and score the runner or a runner backing off of 2nd base toward first and drawing a play? The defense is playing on a live runner in either case, it is their responsibility to make or not make a play if they don't want to risk letting that runner score
And I never said I was the umpire in a game where a runner retreated, I said I had seen games where it had happened. I am fully aware a runner cannot simply jump on any base, but as long as they did not bypass a base which in the situations I described where runners on 2nd heading back to first base dugout they most certainly can just jump on first base as long as it's not occupied.
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And I never said I was the umpire in a game where a runner retreated, I said I had seen games where it had happened. I am fully aware a runner cannot simply jump on any base, but as long as they did not bypass a base which in the situations I described where runners on 2nd heading back to first base dugout they most certainly can just jump on first base as long as it's not occupied.
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