Saturday, May 20, 2023

Two Torontonians Tagged on Third Base - Who is Out?

Trapped in a rundown, Blue Jays baserunner R3 Brandon Belt retreated to third base, only to find following runner R2 Matt Chapman standing on the base. Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman tagged both and 3B Umpire Adam Beck called preceding runner R3 Belt out...was this the correct ruling?

Toronto batter Danny Jansen's infield ground ball-turned-fielder's choice brings up the two runners-one-base discussion and reference to Official Baseball Rule 5.06(a)(2), which states, "Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged and the preceding runner is entitled to the base, unless Rule 5.06(b)(2) applies."

OBR 5.06(b)(2), in turn states that in the specific case of a force play, it is the following/trail runner who is entitled to the base and not the preceding/lead runner, since the force play, well, forces, the following runner to advance.

The MLB Umpire Manual makes it even easier to understand: "If two runners are touching a base at the same time, the following runner is out when tagged (unless, of course, the lead runner is forced)."

Thus, when U3 Beck called preceding runner R3 Belt out on the tag, on a non-force play, this was the incorrect runner to call out. After the play, HP Umpire Dan Iassogna and crew met to correct the incorrect ruling and properly declare R2 Chapman out, placing R3 Belt back on third base.

A few innings later, HP Umpire Iassogna had to remind Blue Jays manager John Schneider during a mound visit with pitcher Alek Manoah that his pitching coach, Pete Walker, had already made a mound visit to Manoah earlier that inning, requiring Manoah's removal from the game for Schneider's second trip to the same pitcher during the same inning.

To cover all bases, that rule is OBR 5.10(l)(2): "A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the game."

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Umpires confer after two-runners-one-base play; skipper loses track of mound visits

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