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First off, to answer your question
about the ball having to be thrown
to 1st base to get the out, the
answer is no. Not if the batter does
not go to first and they return to
their team area or dugout. But it
is a live ball until the batter
enters his team area or dugout,
where it then becomes a dead ball.
The umpire would have to call dead
ball at the moment he thinks that
this happens. When dead ball is
called, if there are other runners
on base they would have to be on the
next base they were going to when
dead ball was called or they would
have to return to the last base that
they occupied when dead ball was
called.
Now if the batter just stood at home
plate and didn't advance to 1st
after hitting the ball then the
defense would have to either go to
first or tag the batter for the out.
One more thing that could happen, is
if the batter is in between 1st base
and home and the defense attempts to
tag the batter and the batter either
stops or goes back towards home
plate. This is an immediate dead
ball and all runners must return to
the last base they occupied.
I hope this answered your question.
Thanks and keep those questions
coming. I'll see you in between the
lines.
Gino the umpire. |