Basrunner on 2nd base. Before the pitch, he takes a lead. After each pitch he does what I describe as an “obligatory tag up” , touching 2nd base again, then immediately take up the same lead.
I’ve looked up the rulebook and can’t find a pitch-by-pitch requirement for a “tag-up”. Is this just a habit players are taught to keep them alert?
Or am I missing something in the rules?
IMHO it is basically to keep them alert, but also after a fly ball (including fouls) is caught the runner must tag up. If he is taught to tag up after every pitch then he won’t forget (which again is part of staying alert). [ul]
[sup]Every pitch is the beginning of the rest of the game.[/sup][/ul]
There is also the chance of a sharp-eyed catcher throwing the ball to 2nd instead of the pitcher if the baserunner on 2nd isn’t paying attention and staying off of the bag. Since 2nd and the pitcher’s mound are in line, it’s harder to tell if the throw back from the plate is going to the mound or 2nd, so for a runner on 2nd, tagging up after every pitch is important.
Respecting mcbiggins: But in the case of the runner on 2nd base: he always trots back so casually to tag then immediately goes back to his lead. (Even thought the infielders usually don’t move!). The runner knows the infielders aren’t in position to pick him off. That’s why I call this an “obligatory re-tag”: if he doesn’t do it, he’ll get accused of “laziness” from his coaches!
This also happens for a runnner on 1st, but he’s usually kept “honest” by the 1Bman!
You’re missing something in the rules. Basically, runners do this to avoid the Hidden Ball Trick.
Technically, the baserunner is not required to return to the base after every pitch (unless it’s a foul ball or a fly ball) - after a strike or a ball the runner can do as he pleases.
HOWEVER - the reason baserunners as taught to tag up is that pitchers can act deceptively as long as they aren’t standing on the pitcher’s rubber. Rule 8.05(i) prohibits pitchers from standing in a set or windup position, or standing “Astride” the rubber, without having the ball.
So after the pitch is delivered and the ball is returned to the pitcher, the runner is at risk of being tricked into being tagged out… until the pitcher reassumes his pitching stance. As long as he’s not on the mound, anyone on the opposing team might be holding the ball. Maybe the first baseman got it when you weren’t looking, so if you step off the base… BAM! You’re out. Once the pitcher gets ready to pitch, however, the runner is no longer at risk; the pitcher MUST have the ball, or else it’s a balk; the ball is dead, and the runner advances one base.
If you watch major league runners, they will commence their leadoff only when the pitcher gets back up on the mound. All players are taught to get back on the base between pitches; that’s how you avoid the hidden ball trick. Don’t lead off until the pitcher’s back in the set or windup position, and you’ll be safe.
Rick, is there a modern case of where this has happened? The commisioner and the system in general seems to have cracked down on trick plays and stunts, compared to 30 or 50 or 70 years ago.
This guy (MS-Word document, page 3) has documentation. If you believe him, Yankees’ second baseman Willie Randolph fell for the hidden-ball stunt as recently as 1980.
There have been a few threads about the hidden ball trick and some recent cases were discussed.
RickJay, that’s actually along the lines of what I was thinking, but the OP was asking about a runner on second, so I figured the cather could throw the ball back to the pitcher extra hard, and the pitcher would just duck or side-step out of its way, and then you get a quick out on the guy who took a long lead from second and didn’t tag abck up.
I understand that baserunners must always be alert to a pickoff or hidden ball trick. I used the example of a runner on 2nd because in this case, the infielders are not in position for an easy pickoff.
I just find it almost comical to see the baserunner “leisurely amble” back to the bag, touch it (like hitting a little ‘reset switch’) then immediately going back to his origial lead. He doesn’t “scurry” back to 2nd unless he sees an infielder make a move to the bag (a possible pickoff) in which case, the runner will probably beat the infielder to the bag anyway.
A conference on the mound will send the runner “scurrying” back to the bag (possible hidden ball trick).
But between every non-contact pitch when the infielders don’t move, the runner’s “slow amble” to re-tag the bag must be just a demonstration to his coaches that he’s still awake.
Or maybe it’s a “good luck superstition” like not stepping on foul lines?
The rules aspect of this question has been answered, so I’m going to offer another reason why they would do this.
Anyone here play any sports? Ever notice how when you are in the middle of things it is difficult to just stand still? Watch a tennis player ready to return a serve. They shift side to side. Or wide receivers in football will curl and uncurl fingers. Fielders in baseball will do something to keep things moving, whether it be crouching to the fielding position in time with the pitch or moving their hands slightly.
So for the runner, just standing there is not really an option. Too much adrenaline and too much intensity to just hold still. In a few moments they are going to have to bolt with as much as they have at the crack of the bat. So what to do? Head towards third? Not a chance. Walk over to the shortstop and chat? ummm… no. So walk to the bag and back, and get ready for the next 'moment.
In addition to what cmosdes said, which sounds correct to me, it seems to me that it would behoove the runner to already be moving back toward the base should a pickoff be attempted. By walking slowly backwards, keeping an eye on where the ball is at all times, the player not only is keeping moving but also is moving in the right direction and ready to dive back should it be necessary.
Oh, heck, it usually happens about once a year or so.
http://www.retrosheet.org/newslt12.htm#Hidden
This names a bunch of them in the recent past, and I know there’s more. I saw Von Hayes vicimized in person in the 80s. I’m sure Marty Barrett must have done it a dozen times in his career.
I was always taught to be on the base until the pitcher comes to his stance.
Yeah, along these lines, doesn’t the runner tag-up out of common sense to avoid being picked off base? In other words, the runner doesn’t have to be caught in the act of stealing to be picked off base. - Jinx
I’ve always believed that runners tag in order to reestablish their distance from the base. By returning to the base after each pitch, they can step off the optimum distance and be sure they’re in the right place each time. Without the seemingly gratuitous tagup, they’d be in increased danger of wandering too far and getting picked off.
I think Mandarax is right. After the pitcher releases the pitch the runner will take several steps toward the next base in order to get a head start if the batter hits it. If the ball is not put in play then the runner needs to take a lead again so part of going back is to reestablish the same lead which is carefully calibrated to his speed and the situation. A step too far and he may get picked off and a step to close and he might not be able to score. Also the pitcher can not be called for a balk if he is not on the rubber so the runner will have less time to go back in case of a pick off. Another reason is that the runner has to get signs from the coaches and needs to do that near the bag because he isn’t paying as much attention to the other team while he is doing that.
On second base, the runner usually cannot see the shortstop and second baseman while watching the pitcher, catcher and batter. It’s very easy for one of them to sneak to the base and catch a napping runner off guard. This is especially true if the pitcher is not on the mound.
First, the rules: there is no rule requiring a runner to re-tag after every pitch. He is required to re-tag after a foul ball, however (5.09(e)).
Second, the hidden-ball trick has been executed recently–I think the Giants pulled it off against the Dodgers 2 years ago.
Third, Mandarax has it pretty much right. The runner performs a ritual on every pitch: on the bag until he confirms that the pitcher has the ball and is on the rubber (to avoid the HBT, or snap throw from the catcher or otherwise being caught napping). Then the runner takes his primary lead, until the pitch is delivered; then, when the pitch is in the air, he takes another 2-3 steps (secondary lead) to get a jump in case the ball is batted, or eludes the catcher (wild pitch or passed ball). If none of the above, he returns to the bag and repeats.
It is important to tag up every pitch. It’s not that far. Several times in youth ball, especially after the transition to being able to lead off, I noticed runners not paying attention or chatting with coaches. After a pitch I would walk around the mound and if the runner wasn’t paying attention it was an easy out or at least a close play. I did it twice in one season and it worked both times. People freeze like a deer in headlights, it’s akin to the reaction of people when a straight steal of home occurs. Very unique situation and if the players are not quick enough, mentally, then it’s an out.
As for whether this would work in high school or college. I played in both, runners are more aware, and the distances greater, but sometimes runners stay way off the bag and then turn their backs. It might work but when you’re 12 you’ll try anything no matter how strange, when you’re older you don’t want to look like a kook.
Anyway as a practical matter why not tag up?