Rundown Question

[rampro]

This has puzzled me for a long time so, I thought I would throw this out for discussion.  According to Jaksas/Roder it is a play if there is a:

1.      Tag or tag try of a runner

2.      Tag of tag try of a base

3.      Throw to another fielder in a try to put out a runner

4.      A rundown

5.      Balk

I always thought that including a rundown on this list was redundant.  If a runner is caught between bases, there most likely will be one or more tag attempts and/or one or more throws to retire him.  So if each tag attempt or throw is a play, in and by itself, why include a rundown at all?

The only explanation that makes sense, to me at least, is that since the defense is not trying to retire multiple runners, but playing on only one runner, then multiple tag attempts or throws on one runner is to be considered a single play. 

 

Consider this situation:  R2 and batter hits a ground ball between 2^nd and 3^rd base.  R2 thinks the ball will get through and takes off for 3^rd.  F6 makes a great stop and throws to F5 to get the out but R2 sees F5 with the ball and starts backpedalling F5 chases him back toward 2^nd and then throws to F4.  F4 chases R2 and then airmails the ball out of play.  At the TOT the batter runner had already acquired 1^st.  So now for the base awards.  R2 goes home, no question.  Now, if you believe that each tag attempt or throw is a play then batter runner is awarded 2 bases, TOT so he goes to 3^rd.  If, however, a rundown is considered “a play†(singular) then the batter runnerin this situation is awarded 2 bases TOP he goes to 2^nd.

I am not arguing for either interpretation.  I only bring this up because I truly do not know which one is correct.  I believe if forced to make a call, I would probably award the batter runner 3^rd, but only because it feels right.  So what say you all?

[maven]

A rundown is one play (for most umpiring purposes). This is true in OBR: if a runner gets into a rundown and the defense plays on him instead of making an appeal, then the defense loses the right to appeal.

 

In FED, that's not true: if the offense initiates the play, the defense retains the right to appeal.

 

As for your play: your rundown question doesn't seem relevant to that ruling. But in any case, when F5 throws to F4 to retire R2, that's the first play by an infielder. When F4 throws the ball out of play, the award is 2 bases from TOT.

[grayhawk]

It's relevant in OBR because if a runner is obstructed during a rundown, it's going to be type A obstruction in all but the most extreme circumstances.

[Rich Ives]

This has puzzled me for a long time so, I thought I would throw this out for discussion.  According to Jaksas/Roder it is a play if there is a:

1.      Tag or tag try of a runner

2.      Tag of tag try of a base

3.      Throw to another fielder in a try to put out a runner

4.      A rundown

5.      Balk

I always thought that including a rundown on this list was redundant.  If a runner is caught between bases, there most likely will be one or more tag attempts and/or one or more throws to retire him.  So if each tag attempt or throw is a play, in and by itself, why include a rundown at all?

The only explanation that makes sense, to me at least, is that since the defense is not trying to retire multiple runners, but playing on only one runner, then multiple tag attempts or throws on one runner is to be considered a single play. 

 

 

 

There is also a lot of just plain chasing between the throws and tag attempts.