Force Play

I am not sure but another poster said the same thing awhile ago. Can't remember what the UMPs on here ruled.

Need more information. Did the play go to first and the BR put out? If so then it's a tag play. If you are saying he went to second, started returning and then went back to second then the force is still on. Once he reaches or passes a bag he is forced to and then returns to the force side, the force is reinstated.

To the best of my knowledge the batter runner was not put out at first.

I thought once possession was taken then then force was off - you are only forced to the next base so after that you have to be tagged out.

The relevant rule is OBR 7.08(e). ".....if the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason toward the base he had last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced;"

This is the only time the word "retreats" is used in OBR, so I believe it implies more than just "returns". So if, for example, a runner slides into second, pops up, loses his balance and falls off the base toward first, the force is not reinstated. He wasn't "retreating". But consider what happens if with a hit and run, and the batter hits a high fly ball. A speedy runner might have time to touch second base, and then retreat towards first so that he can retouch if the ball is caught. However, if the ball is not caught, the force is still on, even though he has already touched second base.

Finally, once play has relaxed, and the runner is touching his forced base, he can step off in any direction and no longer be subject to a force out.

as long as the batterrunner has not been put out, this is still a force play. Runner is out when he is between First and Second and Second base is touched by a fielder w posseission of the ball.

Wow I never knew that and I am glad that I do now. I guess where it is such a rare play (although what 3 Fingered Glove put with the hit and run is the play I would think that would happen) you don't really think about it.

Thanks guys for enlightening me.