Baseball rules question

[Sea Bass]

So in my ballgame last night, we had the following scenario:

Man on second, nobody out. Batter hits a sinking liner to right field, and though it appears as though the rightfielder traps it, it's ruled a catch.

Thinking it's going to fall in, the runner on second takes off for third and rounds third before realizing the ball was caught and that he's dead to rights. He basically just stops where he is (between third and home).

The right fielder, trying to double the runner off at second, makes a horrible throw and it ends up going out of play up the leftfield line.

Question: What happens to the runner?

 

[Dirk Legume]

If the runner retraces his step to go back to second, I believe he is safe.

I will of course, be proven wrong shortly ;D

 

[HandsomeHarley]

I put the runner on third.

He gets back safely to second regardless, because he was never put out.

The ball was thrown out of bounds, which gives him one base.

 

[Matt1735]

When a thrown ball goes out of play, the runner is awarded two bases, which would be home.

However, a runner must also complete his required running responsibilities (which is to legally retouch third and second, then to touch third on his way to the plate).

So, he's awarded home, but the defense can appeal him not retouching if he fails to do so.

 

[cranberry]

I'll go with dead ball, runner returns to second.

 

[JC]

I would think the runner scores as long as he goes back to 2 first. He must retouch 3rd as well.

 

[nmmetsfan]

I'm in the retouch third on way to second, then awarded two bases camp.

 

[Spartan Squad]

MLB has a rule where if a runner misses first while going to second and the fielder throws the ball out of play, that runner is awarded second, but first must retouch first base then go to second. If he has already touched second, he cannot go back (if I am reading the rule correctly). But it doesn't actually address this scenario. The rule says you get two bases, but doesn't address having to retouch the bases before moving on to home.My guess is since you are being awarded home (based on the rule 7.something paraphrased above), you just need to go back and retouch third and second then return back to home.

 

[Sea Bass]

Thanks guys. Believe it or not, the runner stayed at second while time was called. When "play" was called, the pitcher stepped off and threw to second to appeal. At which point the runner was called out.

Explanation: because he'd already touched third and the ball went out of play, he lost the ability to go back to second. So the defense was rewarded with an out for making an error. Absolutely none of that made sense to me, which sadly is par for the course for umps in my league.

 

[black dude with pompano]

Thanks guys. Believe it or not, the runner stayed at second while time was called. When "play" was called, the pitcher stepped off and threw to second to appeal. At which point the runner was called out.

Explanation: because he'd already touched third and the ball went out of play, he lost the ability to go back to second. So the defense was rewarded with an out for making an error. Absolutely none of that made sense to me, which sadly is par for the course for umps in my league.

I think the umps probably got in wrong in your league, but honestly, having done a little umpiring myself, that's a really tough and unusual call and expecting anyone but high-level umps to consistently get that right is probably expecting too much.

 

[Matt1735]

Whether the umpires got it right depends on the order things happened.
If the runner had touched third before the ball went into dead-ball territory, he can return. Reason being the defense cannot benefit from it's mistake.
If the ball went dead and then he touched third, he can't return by rule.

 

[JC]

Whether the umpires got it right depends on the order things happened.
If the runner had touched third before the ball went into dead-ball territory, he can return. Reason being the defense cannot benefit from it's mistake.
If the ball went dead and then he touched third, he can't return by rule.

Balls dead before he touched third it shouldn't matter, play is dead. Why can he not return?

 

[Matt1735]

Whether the umpires got it right depends on the order things happened.
If the runner had touched third before the ball went into dead-ball territory, he can return. Reason being the defense cannot benefit from it's mistake.
If the ball went dead and then he touched third, he can't return by rule.

Balls dead before he touched third it shouldn't matter, play is dead. Why can he not return?

Once the ball is dead, a runner is not permitted to retreat once he has touched a succeeding base.

 

[bueller]

By the major league rulebook, he should have been awarded home. Rule 7.05 says he gets two bases. But he still needed to retrace and tag up at second, which is allowed despite the dead ball.

Rule 7.05(i) Comment: The fact a runner is awarded a base or bases without liability to be put out does not relieve him of the responsibility to touch the base he is awarded and all intervening bases. For example: batter hits a ground ball which an infielder throws into the stands but the batter-runner missed first base. He may be called out on appeal for missing first base after the ball is put in play even though he was “awarded” second base.

If a runner is forced to return to a base after a catch, he must retouch his original base even though, because of some ground rule or other rule, he is awarded additional bases. He may retouch while the ball is dead and the award is then made from his original base.

 

[Sea Bass]

Perfect. Thanks. That's what I was too lazy to look for.