Play or Attempted Play - June 2005

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The following interpretation of “play or attempted play” applies to both awarding of bases and appeal plays:

A “play or attempted play” is interpreted as a legitimate effort, by a defensive player who has possession of the ball, to actually retire a runner. This may include an actual attempt to tag a runner, a fielder running toward a base with the ball in an attempt to force or tag a runner, or actually throwing to another defensive player in an attempt to retire a runner. (The fact that the runner might not be called out on such an attempt is not relevant.)

EXAMPLES

A play or attempted play:
Situation: Runners on first and second, ground ball to the shortstop, who makes a swipe at the runner from second but misses and then throws beyond first base into the stands.
Ruling: The swipe by the shortstop is an attempted play; thus the throw to first is not the first play by an infielder (even though it is the first throw), and the proper award of bases would be from the time of the throw.

NOT a play or attempted play:
Situation: Runner on first, ground ball to the shortstop, who starts to flip the ball to the second baseman but does not and throws the ball beyond first and out of play.
Ruling: The feint to the second baseman is not considered a play or attempted play, and award of bases is from the time of the pitch.

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