If a person is tagging a runner(standing up) and immediatly drops the ball after touching them?

Question

Is the runner safe or out

Answer 1

the runner is out because the ball was live when he touched him unlike when you catch it and drop it then the runner is safe. so he's out

Answer 2

Its up to the umpire's judgment.

If the umpire thinks the player had control of the ball and dropped it AFTER the tag, and the tag is not what caused the ball to come out, then the umpire can call the runner out.

If the umpire thinks that the reason the ball came out is because the player did not have full control of the ball when the tag was made, or if they think the tag knocked the ball loose, then the umpire would call the runner safe.

Usually if it is dropped IMMEDIATELY after the tag, the umpire would judge that the fielder didn't have possession for the tag and therefore the runner is safe, but its still up to the umpire's judgment.

Answer 3

if the tag causes the drop (I assume that's what happens if he immediately drops it at the moment of the tag), then safe... have to hold the ball through the play.

If he tags him, shows it to the umpire, and then just drops the ball, then out

That's why you see runners running over catchers, and the ump checks the ball to see if it's still there after the play

Answer 4

OUT

THe tag was still applied no matter what.  Anything that happens after the tag woiuldnt affect the runner that was just tagged.

Answer 5

thats the umps choice, lol it depends on what team he likes more lol

Answer 6

Must have control of the ball after the tag, there usaully is a 1-2 second rule.

Answer 7

Official definition from the MLB Rulebook:  A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove.  

The player must maintain control of the ball through the end of the play.  

Sometimes when attempting to take the ball out of the glove the player drops the ball.  This is called the "transfer".  As an example on a double play the player steps on second base and then when attempting to throw out the runner at first drops the ball when "transferring" it from the glove to his throwing hand.  The player at second is still called out.

Answer 8

thats up to the umpire's discretion

if the ump feels the player had possesion of the ball while making the tag then the runner is out, but if the ump deems that  the player dropped the ball after making the tag because that player did not have control of the ball, then the runner can be called safe

its nothing that can be ruled 100% of the time the same way (i.e. if the play occurred 100 times its not going to be the same call every time), its going to depend on the situation and discretion of the umpire