tags a runner as she slides into
home plate. Runners attempting to advance are sometimes
thrown out, which means that a fielder throws the ball to someone
covering the base, who then tags the runner before he touches the base. A runner who leads off a base (advances before the pitch is thrown) too far might be
picked off; that is, the pitcher throws to a fielder covering the base, who then tags the runner out. When a runner is tagged out, a further advanced runner who had been
forced to advance no longer has to do so. For example, when a sharply hit ball is caught on one hop by the first baseman, he might immediately tag out the runner at first who is forced to advance to second, but when this is done, a runner already at second is no longer forced to advance to third base. The result of such a tag is called "removing the force". When an attempt to tag a baserunner has been initiated by a fielder in possession of the ball, then an imaginary
base path is formed, which is wide, extending from the runner to the base that the runner is trying to reach safely. If the runner steps outside of the base path, then he is automatically out. However, if a defensive player tags the runner with his glove and the baseball is in his other hand, or with his free hand while the baseball is in his glove, then the runner is not out. Also, if the fielder drops the ball after the tag, the runner is safe. == History ==