Baseball Ruling. I'm calling for Gary Cohen's resignation on 660am

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]
what is this play called, when a runner is thrown out before he tags up after a fly/line out?

[/ QUOTE ]

An appeal play.

Hypothetical play. Runner on first, one out. Runner is going on the pitch. Sharp liner to short. Shortstop catches it, throws wildly to first and the ball rolls out of play into the dugout. Umpires call time and award the runner third. Runner, not yet having retouched first base, touches second and jogs into third. The pitcher, toes the rubber, umpire calls, "Play."

It is now the defense's responsibility to appeal the runner failing to tag up. If they don't, the runner stays at third. The runner was never "forced" to do anything.

Another odd version of a timing play. First and third, one out. Long fly to the outfield, and somehow BOTH runners fail to tag up. The runner from third crosses home before the defense retires the runner from first. The run scores. Even though there are now three outs, the defense may still appeal the runner from third leaving early to nullify the run, provided that not all nine fielders have crossed the foul lines.