How Force Plays and Tag Plays Differ in Baseball Explainer
A force play exists when a runner loses the legal right to a base because the batter becomes a runner. With a runner on first, for example, a fair ground ball forces that runner toward second. A fielder holding the ball can retire the runner by touching second before the runner arrives.
A tag play is required when the runner is not forced. The fielder must touch the runner with the ball securely held in the hand or glove. A runner trying to steal second or advance an extra base typically must be tagged because no following runner is legally pushing that runner forward.
The force can disappear during the play. If the defense first retires the batter-runner at first, a runner who had been forced to second may regain the right to return to first. The defense must then tag that runner rather than merely step on second.
The distinction also affects scoring. A run cannot score when the third out is a force out, even if the runner crossed home before the out. On a non-force tag play, timing can matter. Umpires therefore track not only whether an out occurred, but what legal obligation the runner had at that instant.
A runner loses the right to a base because the batter becomes a runner.
When the runner is not forced to advance.
Yes, such as when a trailing batter-runner is retired first.
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