Force play

Force play

In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled (or "forced") to vacate his time-of-pitch base--and thus try to advance to the next base--because the batter became a runner. A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner. Runners at second or third base are forced only when all bases preceding their time-of-pitch base are occupied by other baserunners and the batter becomes a runner.

A forced runner's force base is the next base beyond his time-of-pitch base. Any attempt by fielders to put a forced runner out is called a force play. A forced runner is out (called a force out) when a fielder with the ball touches the runner's force base before the runner reaches that base. A forced runner also may be tagged out in the usual fashion as well; such a tag is still considered a force play if the tag is made before the runner reaches his force base. Any play on the batter-runner before he reaches first base is the same as a force play, though the rules technically do not include this in the definition of a force play.

A force on a runner is "removed" when the batter or a following runner is put out. This most often happens on fly outs--on such, the batter-runner is out, and the other runner(s) usually return to their time-of-pitch base because they are no longer forced to advance.

Force outs may also be called on neighborhood plays, though this tradition goes against the rules.

coring on force outs

No run can be scored during the same continuous playing action as a force out for the third out, even if a runner reaches home plate before the third out is recorded. As a result, on a batted ball with two outs, fielders will nearly always ignore a runner trying to score, attempting instead to force out the batter or another runner.

An appeal play may also be a force play; for example, with runners on first and third bases and two out, the batter gets a hit but the runner from first misses second base on the way to third. After a proper appeal, this runner will be called out. This is a force out because the runner was out for failing to touch a base to which he was forced; this force out is the third out and thus the run does not score. However, most appeals are not force plays, because appeals usually do not involve a forced runner.

ee also

*Fielder's choice
*Double play
*Fourth out


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • force\ play — • force play • force out noun A play in baseball in which a runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the fielder with the ball touches the base. Bob was out at second base when Joe hit into a force play …   Словарь американских идиом

  • force play — force′ play n. baseball spo a play in which a base runner is forced to advance to the next base or to home plate in order to make room for another base runner, usu. resulting in an out for the first runner …   From formal English to slang

  • Force Play — Ein Force Play ist eine Spielsituation im Baseball, in der ein Baserunner gezwungen wird, die Base, auf welcher er während des Pitch stand, zu verlassen und zur nächsten Base vorzurücken. Die Situation resultiert aus der Regel, dass auf jeder… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • force play — noun a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base the shortstop got the runner at second on a force • …   Useful english dictionary

  • force play — or[force out] {n.} A play in baseball in which a runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the fielder with the ball touches the base. * /Bob was out at second base when Joe hit into a force play./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • force play — or[force out] {n.} A play in baseball in which a runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the fielder with the ball touches the base. * /Bob was out at second base when Joe hit into a force play./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • force play — noun A play in which a baserunner on first base is required to advance to second base because the batter has become a runner, or a runner on second or third base is required to advance because a runner on a preceding base is so forced …   Wiktionary

  • force play — noun Date: 1912 force out …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • force play — Baseball. a situation in which a base runner is forced to advance to a base or to home plate as a result of the batter becoming a base runner or to make room for another base runner. [1895 1900, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • force-out — • force play • force out noun A play in baseball in which a runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the fielder with the ball touches the base. Bob was out at second base when Joe hit into a force play …   Словарь американских идиом

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