In Baseball, when you have a runner on a base, and less than 2 outs, and the hitter hits a very high and long flyball, why does the runner on base not advance to the next base – They Look Like they’re contemplating, but never go even If there is plenty of time?

Question

When the hitter hits the ball high and long for a fly out.
Why does the runner not run to the next base?

In: 2

Answer 1

Runners don’t often tag and advance bases other than home. Home plate is furthest away from the outfield, this means that a fielder throwing to home has to make a longer throw. That longer throw might be the difference between the runner getting there in time or not.

If a runner tries to tag at first and run to second, the distance from the outfield to second base is shorter, so even a weak throw has a good chance to get the runner out. The distance from 2nd base to home plate is 127′, so you save quite a bit of distance on the throw. Runners will sometimes tag from second to third, but only if the fly ball is in right field, which is further away from third base.