Runner on first base. Batter hits sharp ground ball which is caught by the first baseman. The runner remains standing on first base. The first baseman tags the runner and then tags first base before the batter gets there. Is the runner out? Is the batter out?

Answer: Yes, the runner is out and yes, the batter is out.

Under Official Baseball Rules Rule 7.08 Any runner is out when -- (e) He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner.

To be abundantly clear, consider whether the runner is out if the fielder tags first base and then tags the runner. In this case, the batter is out, but the runner is not. When the fielder puts out the batter by tagging first base, the runner is no longer forced to advance and can remain safely on first base.