Runners at 2nd and 3rd. Running into an out on tag.

This scenario is one of those baseball plays that goes against some basic tenets. You're never supposed to make the last out at 3B. But, this play seems to dismiss those basic rules in favor of trying to steal a run. The final out at 3B is made in an attempt to score a run at the plate. So, in that way, the out at 3B is a "sacrificial" out to gain a greater product.

A fly ball is hit to one of the outfielders. If the ball is hit to rightfield the runner at 2B should go back to tag as an initial read. This makes the running into an out play here more instinctual. However, if the ball is hit to the leftfielder the runner is trained to walk with the flyball and to read the ball accordingly. It is less instinctive to tag on balls hit to the leftfielder. Yet, it might be more prudent to actually tag on the flyball to left field.

The trail runner in a 2nd and 3rd situation is very important becuase he is the runner that is running into an out to score that run. When the fly ball is hit it is important for the trail runner to tag as the lead runner tags. When the lead runner takes off the trail runner takes off and reads the lead runner. If the lead runner continues home in what looks like a bang bang play, the trail runner takes off to draw a throw.

The novice baseball fan would criticize the trail runner for making the last out at 3B. The more intelligent baseball fan understands that the trail runner just gave himself up for a run that may have been in jeopardy.