Tagging on a fly when at 2B.

When is it a good time to tag at 2B? Well, there are certainly many factors to consider.

First of all, if there is 1 out you will be less aggressive in tagging to go to 3B than with 0 outs. However, after watching a college game where a players scored from 2B on a tag I began thinking about this concept. I suppose, if in the back of your mind you think it is possible to score from 2B, it is a great play to think tag at 2B with 1 out.

The ball was hit very high and deep to right center field. I think it is very important to understand that the height of the ball is important in determining whether to tag or not. If the ball is hit on a line you could never really justify tagging. If the ball drops you would be expected to score from 2B. If the ball is hit high in the air you could assume that the ball would be caught therefore justifying tagging at 2B.

Here is the way I see it. At 2B, a ball hit to the runners left indicates a tag opportunity. Very rarely do runners tag on balls hit to a runners right. So, fly ball to a runners left means tag opportunity. At least, he should think tag first and then adjust. If the outfielder is on a dead sprint(numbers on his jersey going away fast) after the ball it certainly wouldn't be a prudent play to stand waiting to tag at 2B. But, if the ball is high in the air and the outfielder is starting to camp under the ball a tag is definitely a possibility.

Very advanced baserunners will sometimes go 15-20 feet off of 2B and then see what course of action is necessary. If the outfielder is moving away from the infield it is unreasonable to think that he could catch the ball and turn and record an out at 3B. So, in this manner you are tagging at 2B without standing on 2B initally.

This concept is one that needs stressed on baserunning repetitions.