Loss on the play.

You got it.

 

Running the bases in reverse has to be done with actual intent, not based off a mistaken assessment of the play, to be illegal.

He was safe at 2nd.  All he had to do was stay on the base.

MLB said that the ruling on the field was wrong and that both runners should have been out.  And I know theres better video out there of this than taking it from a picture of the TV or whatever.

R1 was out when he was tagged (correctly called by U2).  If MLB says both runners should have been out, then either Segura was tagged when he left 2nd base for 1st, or MLB says he is out for abandonment.  It has to be one or the other.

Segura originally stole 2nd (at least the umpire called him safe), the next batter walked, and the double steal attempt occurred in the middle of the 3rd batter's at bat. 

 

Rule 7.01 Comment: If a runner legally acquires title to a base, and the pitcher assumes his pitching position, the runner may not return to a previously occupied base.

However, no penalty is listed.  Childress in the BRD (2004 edition) quotes Fitzpatrick:

"If a runner tries to return to a previously occupied base after the pitcher has the ball on the pitcher's plate, the umpire will warn him.  If he persists, he is out.  Above all, the umpire must not permit the defense to play on him."

 

J/R mentions 7.08i and notes that the runner often returns to a base for a legitimate reason (caught fly ball, missed base, foul ball, ignorance) and such action should not be interpreted as reverse base running.  Once a pitcher is in contact with the rubber a runner, regardless of purpose, cannot return beyond his occupied base.  If he attempts to do so, he is declared out.

So even though Segura was not trying to make a travesty of the game, he in fact should have known that he couldn't return to 1st base after multiple pitches were thrown (7.01 Cmt).  That's why he should have been declared out.  He was neither tagged on his way to 1st nor had he abandoned his attempt to run the bases.  He had, however, run them illegally.

 

Better video. 

http://www.foxsportswisconsin....ed-to?blockID=896063

Much better view of his actions after he left the bag.

Exactly.  I was referring though to after he left the bag and "started towards his dugout".. I'm all for ringing him right then and there.

 

If this is accurate: 

In the article MLB baseball is quoted as: he should have been out per:

Rule 7.01 Comment: If a runner legally acquires title to a base, and the pitcher assumes his pitching position, the runner may not return to a previously occupied base.

 

So consider:

R1 no outs.  Deep FB, caught by F7,  R1 tags, but leaves early, barely slides in to 2nd ahead of a great throw.  F1 get's the ball, comes set, D coach convinces F1 to appeal the runner at 1B. F1 steps off and throws to F4 for the tag and appeal of the runner, the throw sails into center field. The runner per this ruling can not return to retouch.  Hmm, I'll be the first to admit, I'd not considered that application.  And thinking back and back, I've never encountered such a play, which is good, cause I would have allowed the runner to try and retag during the live ball appeal.  

7.01 Comment does not apply on appeals, because the runner cannot legally acquire title to a base if he is in jeopardy of appeal of another base. During a continuous live ball, a runner can always return to retouch, unless a following runner has scored. So, in your situation, a runner can return.

Does anybody see obstruction of the runner returning to second? He had to make a move to go around the offensive player. Just stirring the pot.

 

The potential for OBS was there but R2 didn't act any different than he would have acted had the fielder not been close, so there wasn't any OBS.