[KJS]

In the A's-Giant game Saturday there was a play where an A's player was caught in a rundown between 3rd and home. He successfully got hung up enough for the guys on 1st and 2nd to advance before getting tagged out. Standard.

I noticed though that the guy who eventually tagged him out had the ball in his hand but tagged him with the glove. He did this so he could get a tag on and perhaps make a throw quickly if needed. There was no dispute as to whether the runner was out. It was clear he had done his job by giving his teammates a chance to move up and quietly left the field.

But it made me wonder if the rules say you have to tag with the ball in your glove, or if it is not in the glove, with the ball itself. In this play, the guy certainly had reason to take with the empty glove so he could quickly throw if necessary. In a more meaningful play/situation I could see an argument if the rules say you must tag with the ball in the glove.

KJS