Question about tagging up

[Wolfpack01]

Situation

Runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Deep fly ball to center which is caught for out number 2. Runner on 3 tags properly and heads for home. Runner on 2 leaves early. CF throws to second but we tag the girl instead of just stepping on second. This is a timing play which I believe the run will count. But what about if we just step on 2? Is this considered a force and the run wouldn't count or does the run count no matter what?

 

[BretMan2]

No, this would not be a force out. This is one of the most often misunderstood rules I see questions about.

The rule book definition of a "force out" is when a runner already on base is forced to advance by the batter becoming a batter-runner. Since the batter is out on a caught fly ball, runners on base are no longer forced to advance. You can NEVER have a force play when the batter is put out before safely reaching first base.

People get this confused all the time. Tagging a base while holding the ball looks like a force out, since that's how most force outs are completed. But it's not always a force out. In your case, it is a live ball appeal of a runner leaving base too soon on a caught fly ball. And it's still a timing play, with respect to the run scoring or not. If the run crosses the plate BEFORE the appeal (tagging either the runner or the base) then the run counts. If the run crosses the plate AFTER the appeal is made, the run doesn't count.

 

[Wolfpack01]

Okay! Thank you! The run did cross before the tag.

 

[Dawgsdad]

Thank God for Bretman2