Often times in the course of a season, you'll see a rundown happen where a runner advances to 3rd base while a rundown is occuring between home and 3rd. Now you have two players occupying the same base. What do you do if you are the defense?
Well, there are two schools of thought on this one. The traditional school of thought says run the lead runner back and tag both guys out. The trail runner will be declared out and you've got what you want- an out. However, I've seen some strange things happen when you drive the lead runner back to a bag expecting the trail runner to stay put.
What if in the process of driving the lead runner back, the trail runner retreats and heads back to 2nd base? Now, you have a rundown between 2nd and 3rd with your back to the lead runner. That certainly isn't ideal.
I think the answer lies in whether or not you can record an out easily prior to driving the runner back to 3rd. If the catcher (or any other position player for that matter) can record an out with relative ease prior to creating the logjam at 3rd he should do so. However, if it does appear that a second runner has advanced to 3rd and has no intent of leaving, run them back to the bag and tag both.
It should be noted that at higher levels of baseball the trail runner is there on purpose and he will most assuredly not leave. The same thing can't be said at lower levels. There is a very legitimate chance that the trail runner will retreat.
Knowing this makes you ready for the unexpected.
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