In baseball, when can you tag up on a fly ball? (When the ball is touched or when it is caught)?

Answer 1

I am a baseball umpire and this happened a few weeks ago. The rule is you can tag up when the ball is touched.
Here is the play I had..........
Runners on 1st and 2nd fly ball hit to right field. RF has the ball hit his glove jump out into the air and he catches it again without the ball hitting the ground. Both runners left as soon as the ball hit the glove. The defense challenged that the runners left early and the field umpire called them out and e talked and I explained the rule to him and overruled him.

This rule is that way so a fielder does not have the advantage of "juggling" the ball all closer to the infield to create a double or triple play

Hope this answers your question

Answer 2

Jimi L,

You have to read the whole rulebook. In Rule 2.00, under the definition of a catch, it says:

"A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball."

So there it is in black and white; you can tag up as soon as the ball is TOUCHED.

Answer 3

You must tag up if it is caught. If the ball is not actually caught yet, and you are waiting to run, you have to stay on the base.

Rule 7.10(a) is the official rule, and the comment states "caught". See my link.

That's nice that Martino below me says that it is touched, and that he has overruled someone who called it otherwise, but apparently he doesn't know the rules well enough, as I have linked to below. Perhaps he should study up some more before blowing another call?

Same thing with Cincy Kid below him? Where do YOU get off saying what the official rulebook should say? I think that's what makes IT official, not you.

Often rules are misunderstood by people, and unfortunately those same people then explain the rule wrong to someone else, and so on and so on. If you would take the time to visit the official rules and read them, rather than just insisting you are right because you have umpired a couple JV games or because you think it should say something else.

** Edit 2:
Well it seems pob14 got me here. I apologize for any arrogance on my own part. It is indeed as soon as it is touched. Touche. I've just been getting irritated by arguing with people who don't read the rules. Seems I got ahead of myself and put my foot in my mouth. My bad.

Answer 4

Tagging Up In Baseball

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
In baseball, when can you tag up on a fly ball? (When the ball is touched or when it is caught)?

Answer 6

Where are all of these "yes" answers coming from? Do you people just make things up out of your head as truth? The CORRECT answer, (and I know this is redundant as it was mentioned a couple times before), is that as soon as the ball touches the fielder's glove the runner is free to take off. So bobbling a ball only gives the baserunner more time to score.

Answer 7

WELL Jamesy L, as you like to hammer other respondents, thought I'd take a splitting-hairs jab atcha.

The runner does not have to wait on the base. The runner tagging up has only to have touched the base after the ball has been caught.

Before you take umbrage at this, however, please know that the stuff of yours I have seen before, and here, is top notch, in my opinion.

Answer 8

Neither. You can tag up and attempt to advance when the UMPIRE says that the out has been recorded. That means that the fielder has to prove to the umpire that he (the fielder) has control of the ball. If the out has been recorded, and the fielder then drops the ball and thereby allows a runner to advance, it's ruled an error on the OF.

Answer 9

When an attempt to catch the ball has been made. The guy might catch it, or the ball might fall out of the mitt. Either way, as soon as you see and/or hear the ball strike leather, RUN!

Answer 10

The runner can leave his base as soon as a fielder touches the ball.