The batter missed the pitch, and the Cubs caught the runner from third in a run down. The Cubs catcher ran the third base runner back to the bag, but the runner from second was already there. The catcher tagged out the runner from second (who was occupying the bag) then the runner from third second (as he was off the base behind his teammate).
Initially, the umpire called both base runners out. But after a long umpire huddle, the call was reversed and the runner from second was allowed to stay at third. No double play.
But in the confusion, was this the right call?
The official baseball rules:
7.00—The Runner.
7.01
A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out.
He is then entitled to it until he is put out, or
forced to vacate it for another runner legally
entitled to that base.
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.
7.02
In advancing, a runner shall touch first,
second, third and home base in order. If
forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse order, unless the ball is dead under any
provision of Rule 5.09. In such cases, the runner may go directly to his original base.
7.03
(a) 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 7.03(b) applies.
(b) If a runner is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner and
two runners are touching a base to which the following runner is forced, the
following runner is entitled to the base and the preceding runner shall be out
when tagged or when a fielder possesses the ball and touches the base to which
such preceding runner is forced.
The applied rules:
1. A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out. The Mets runner from second ran to the unoccupied third base (since that runner vacated it toward home) so under this provision he acquired title to it unless he "is forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base."
2. Two runners may not occupy the same base when the ball is alive (as was the case in the run down play). If two runners are touching the base (which did not happen in the Mets situation) the runner from second base would be called out as the runner from third base reclaimed the base when he did not advance to home on the squeeze play.
3. Rule 7.03 involves situation where the "batter" becomes a runner and forces a previous runner to advance a base but it is occupied by a previous base runner, there is a force play out. This was not the situation in the Mets-Cubs game.
So how can the Mets second base runner be safe at third when the runner on third retreated to third base?
It would seem Rule 7.03 (b) would control the situation, with the runner from second being called out and the runner from third entitled to his base back. But in the actual sequence of events, the runner from second stayed on the bag and was called out, and the runner from third was not on the bag when he was tagged out when the play was still live. Under the rule, if both runners were on the bag at the same time, the runner from second would be out. However, the umpires must have thought that since the runner from third was tagged "out" while off the base, then both runners were not occupying the "same" base so the runner from second was entitled to third base.
However, the umpire crew chief explained that once the runner on third went past the bag, he "abandoned it" to the runner from second who was standing on it. As a result, the runner from second was entitled to the base and the runner who had been third was tagged out. It is interesting to note that the base running rules do not state a runner can "abandon" a base to another runner.
However, the umpire crew chief explained that once the runner on third went past the bag, he "abandoned it" to the runner from second who was standing on it. As a result, the runner from second was entitled to the base and the runner who had been third was tagged out. It is interesting to note that the base running rules do not state a runner can "abandon" a base to another runner.
Joe Maddon did not strongly argue the final umpire decision. And the Cubs got out of the inning without the Mets scoring a run.
