In baseball, a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielder's hand holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy. A baserunner is in jeopardy when: Attempted tag outs sometimes can instigate fights in baseball. Often the infielder will tag the baserunner too hard, or the baserunner will slide into base with enough speed and force to knock over the infielder attempting the tag out. These often lead to altercations that may culminate in a bench-clearing brawl. Such altercations are much less common in amateur baseball.