Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
A runner on base, Batter hits a long ball, which is caught, the person on base does not start running until after the ball is caught. Why?
Can someone answer my question concerning Baseball
- Thread starter Bretrick
- Start date
Paco Dennis
SF VIP
- Location
- Mid-Missouri
the simple answer is : 
The runner must wait until the ball is caught because of a rule called "tagging up" in baseball.
Why the Runner Waits (The Rule of Tagging Up)
* The Out: When a fielder catches a batted fly ball before it touches the ground, the batter is immediately out.
* The Restriction: A baserunner is not permitted to advance to the next base on a caught fly ball until they have retouched or remained on their original base at the exact moment the ball is first touched by a fielder. This act is called "tagging up."
* The Penalty: If the runner starts running to the next base before the ball is caught, and the ball is caught, they can be called out. The defensive team can appeal this by throwing the ball to the base the runner started from, and if the fielder touches that base before the runner returns to it, the runner is out.
Summary of the Play
* Ball is hit: The runner immediately runs back and keeps a foot in contact with their base.
* Ball is caught: The runner pushes off their base (tags up) at the moment the ball is caught.
* Runner runs: The runner sprints to the next base, trying to advance before the defense can throw the ball there and tag them out.
This rule essentially rewards the defense for making a catch by requiring the runner to delay their attempt to advance. It makes the offensive decision a strategic risk-reward calculation, especially on deep fly balls where the runner has a chance to advance a base (like scoring from third base on a "sacrifice fly").
Would you like to know more about the concept of a "sacri
fice fly"?
The runner must wait until the ball is caught because of a rule called "tagging up" in baseball.
Why the Runner Waits (The Rule of Tagging Up)
* The Out: When a fielder catches a batted fly ball before it touches the ground, the batter is immediately out.
* The Restriction: A baserunner is not permitted to advance to the next base on a caught fly ball until they have retouched or remained on their original base at the exact moment the ball is first touched by a fielder. This act is called "tagging up."
* The Penalty: If the runner starts running to the next base before the ball is caught, and the ball is caught, they can be called out. The defensive team can appeal this by throwing the ball to the base the runner started from, and if the fielder touches that base before the runner returns to it, the runner is out.
Summary of the Play
* Ball is hit: The runner immediately runs back and keeps a foot in contact with their base.
* Ball is caught: The runner pushes off their base (tags up) at the moment the ball is caught.
* Runner runs: The runner sprints to the next base, trying to advance before the defense can throw the ball there and tag them out.
This rule essentially rewards the defense for making a catch by requiring the runner to delay their attempt to advance. It makes the offensive decision a strategic risk-reward calculation, especially on deep fly balls where the runner has a chance to advance a base (like scoring from third base on a "sacrifice fly").
Would you like to know more about the concept of a "sacri
fice fly"?
Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
Thank you.the simple answer is :
The runner must wait until the ball is caught because of a rule called "tagging up" in baseball.
Why the Runner Waits (The Rule of Tagging Up)
* The Out: When a fielder catches a batted fly ball before it touches the ground, the batter is immediately out.
* The Restriction: A baserunner is not permitted to advance to the next base on a caught fly ball until they have retouched or remained on their original base at the exact moment the ball is first touched by a fielder. This act is called "tagging up."
* The Penalty: If the runner starts running to the next base before the ball is caught, and the ball is caught, they can be called out. The defensive team can appeal this by throwing the ball to the base the runner started from, and if the fielder touches that base before the runner returns to it, the runner is out.
Summary of the Play
* Ball is hit: The runner immediately runs back and keeps a foot in contact with their base.
* Ball is caught: The runner pushes off their base (tags up) at the moment the ball is caught.
* Runner runs: The runner sprints to the next base, trying to advance before the defense can throw the ball there and tag them out.
This rule essentially rewards the defense for making a catch by requiring the runner to delay their attempt to advance. It makes the offensive decision a strategic risk-reward calculation, especially on deep fly balls where the runner has a chance to advance a base (like scoring from third base on a "sacrifice fly").
Would you like to know more about the concept of a "sacri
fice fly"?
Let me digest all this information first.
Kaila
SF VIP
A shorter answer, is that the baserunner will very likely be out as well, if they run, which makes 2 outs for the team instead of 1.
The primary exception is, if the ball being caught will be the 3rd and final out;
Then the baserunner might as well run, just in cases the ball is dropped and not caught.
No 'tagging up' required, in that scenario.
The primary exception is, if the ball being caught will be the 3rd and final out;
Then the baserunner might as well run, just in cases the ball is dropped and not caught.
No 'tagging up' required, in that scenario.
Last edited:
Paco Dennis
SF VIP
- Location
- Mid-Missouri
One of the most exciting plays in baseball : 2 outs, bottom of the 9th inning. Man on third, one out, tie score. Batter hits a deep fly ball to center field. The outfielder catches it, then the guy on third takes off for home plate, the outfielder has to make a perfect throw to the catcher at home plate. So the baserunner is running his fastest the outfielder throws the ball ball as hard as he can.
Will he be tagged out, or be safe and win the game?
Will he be tagged out, or be safe and win the game?
Because of the tag-up rule in baseball.
When a batter hits a fly ball that is caught, the runner on base must remain on the base (or return to it) until the ball is first touched by a fielder. Only after the catch can the runner legally leave the base and advance to the next one.
If the runner leaves the base before the ball is caught, the defense can appeal and the runner will be called out.
So on a long fly ball:
- Once the catch is made, they “tag up” (touch the base)
- Then they run to the next base. This prevents runners from gaining an unfair advantage on fly balls that might be caught.
JustDave
Well-known Member
The immediate answer is because "It's the rule." But you are asking, WHY?" That's harder to address, and is a good question. So think about what the game would be like if it wasn't the rule.
First, and maybe this is relevant or not. What the big leagues call a fly ball is not what they looked like to me on the playground. Those big league batters send that ball up in the air. When I attended professional games, I was amazed at how high and how long a fly ball hangs in the air. A runner on base could advance two bases before the ball is even caught, maybe three bases, before the ball is caught and thrown to home plate.
Now try to imagine what the game would be like if it wasn't the rule. I'm not sure I could, because the rule has been in effect my entire lifetime. But there would sure be a lot runs scored without the rule. Would that be a good thing or not? I don't know.
I think the answer is that a runner must remain on base until the ball is hit, which of course is another rule we have to fathom. When the batter strikes the ball it is either going to be a hit or an out, at least if the ball remains in fair territory. If the ball is caught, there is no hit to start the play. Until there is a hit, the runners and the fielders just stand around scratching their butts and spitting tobacco juice.
One of things I don't like about baseball is that the game seems to require too many rules to make it work at all. Of course that's true for most games, but it seems like there are more of these kinds of rules in baseball.