Defending a double

The rules that decide it

• The middle infielder on the ball's side is the relay man; the other trails him 25 to 30 feet back. The first baseman never relays.
• Nobody on: the throw goes to third, and the third baseman runs the relay.
• Runners on: the throw goes home, the catcher makes the call and the third baseman repeats it out to the relay man.
• The trailer watches the batter-runner. If he rounds second too far, the trailer calls "Cut 2" for the backdoor.
• On a gap ball the two outfielders run to it together; the one who doesn't field it stays out of his line of sight and yells the base.

Nobody on

• Nobody on, double down the left-field lineThrow out the batter-runner at third if he tries to stretch the double. If he stops, cut the throw and keep him at second, or throw behind him if he rounds the bag too far. No extra base on an overthrow.
• Nobody on, double to the left-center gapThrow out the batter-runner at third if he tries to stretch the double. If he stops, cut the throw and keep him at second, or throw behind him if he rounds the bag too far. No extra base on an overthrow.
• Nobody on, double to the right-center gapThrow out the batter-runner at third if he tries to stretch the double. If he stops, cut the throw and keep him at second, or throw behind him if he rounds the bag too far. No extra base on an overthrow.
• Nobody on, double down the right-field lineThrow out the batter-runner at third if he tries to stretch the double. If he stops, cut the throw and keep him at second, or throw behind him if he rounds the bag too far. No extra base on an overthrow.

Runner on first

• Runner on first, double down the left-field lineThrow out the runner from first at the plate. If he isn't coming, cut the throw: get the batter-runner at third if he tries for it, or behind him at second if he rounds too far.
• Runner on first, double to the left-center gapThrow out the runner from first at the plate. If he isn't coming, cut the throw: get the batter-runner at third if he tries for it, or behind him at second if he rounds too far.
• Runner on first, double to the right-center gapThrow out the runner from first at the plate. If he isn't coming, cut the throw: get the batter-runner at third if he tries for it, or behind him at second if he rounds too far.
• Runner on first, double down the right-field lineThrow out the runner from first at the plate. If he isn't coming, cut the throw: get the batter-runner at third if he tries for it, or behind him at second if he rounds too far.

Runners on first and second

• Runners on first and second, double down the left-field lineThrow out the lead runner at the plate. If he will score anyway, cut the throw and get the trail runner from first at third, and give up nothing more.
• Runners on first and second, double to the left-center gapThrow out the lead runner at the plate. If he will score anyway, cut the throw and get the trail runner from first at third, and give up nothing more.
• Runners on first and second, double to the right-center gapThrow out the lead runner at the plate. If he will score anyway, cut the throw and get the trail runner from first at third, and give up nothing more.
• Runners on first and second, double down the right-field lineThrow out the lead runner at the plate. If he will score anyway, cut the throw and get the trail runner from first at third, and give up nothing more.

More situations

By position