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Post by bronco on Feb 23, 2010 11:10:06 GMT 10
Saw a very unusual call last Friday Night Padres v Wests.
Runners on 1st & 2nd 1 out, "soft line drive" hit straight to 3rd baseman. Both runners held but 3rd baseman fumbled and eventually dropped the ball. 3rd baseman then picked up the ball touched his base and threw the ball to 2nd for a double play.
The umpires got together and discussed the play after one team complained. The ruling made was that the batter is out and both runners got to return to their bases.
WHAT WAS THE CALL?
Please do not respond if you were at the game or have heard what happenned.
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Post by JRA Qld2 on Feb 23, 2010 11:38:36 GMT 10
Sounds like the 3rd baseman was cheating  |
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Post by kylebyrne on Feb 23, 2010 11:59:12 GMT 10
Sounds as though the umpires have ruled that the 3rd baseman intentionally dropped a line drive, therefore the ruling is batter is out and runners return to there base.
6.05(l) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases;
APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies.
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Post by bronco on Feb 23, 2010 15:33:40 GMT 10
CORRECT.
The umpire who would need to be 100% sure and very obvious that the 3rd baseman intentionally dropped the ball to make that call. The plate umpires original decision was 3 out and the team went into bat. It wasn't until the opposition team claimed "infield fly" that the umpires got together and changed the call to "intentionally dropping".
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Post by kylebyrne on Feb 23, 2010 16:23:26 GMT 10
Why would the team have claimed infield fly Bronco?
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Post by bronco on Feb 23, 2010 16:36:21 GMT 10
No idea, I was scratching my head at the time wondering how they could claim an infield fly on a soft line drive. I guess they were just desperately looking for a favourable call to avoid that double play. They got the call alright! I'm still can't believe the base umpire ruled an intentional dropped ball.
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Post by bobbybillabong on Feb 23, 2010 16:49:10 GMT 10
A 'soft line drive' can't be an infield fly, because a line drive is "sharp and direct", and a fly ball "goes high in the air in flight". Oh, and the definition of infield fly specifically excludes line drives and attempted bunts.
Sounds like there was some doubt whether it was a line drive or a low pop-up fly ball - one of those 'you had to be there' cases.
This situation (intentional dropped catch) and the infield fly rule share the characteristic of preventing multiple outs on the one play, and the remedy for both is the same - batter out, runners not forced to advance.
Don't know that I agree with "100% sure" - it's a judgement call. I see it as akin to the legal test of 'balance of probablilities' (ie more likely than not) rather than 'beyond reasonable doubt'. I'm rarely 100% sure about anything - on or off the field!
As for "very obvious" - again a hard standard to meet as a clever fielder trying this play is not going to be too obvious about it. It's one reason we watch the fielder rather than the ball.
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Post by QBUA on Feb 23, 2010 18:04:08 GMT 10
This call raises another scenario that is practiced at the high level. Runners at 1st and 2nd with 0 outs and batter pops up a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, instead of catching the ball the pitcher lets it bounce to try and get the double play. How does this differ from what happened with the 3rd baseman. All of these situations, including Puffs, I would have to be there to see it and make up my own mind. Puff, just on your posting first, I don't see many pitchers deliberately let a butt fall to the ground to roll a double. More like, if in high levels, they don't want to dive for a ball, they may injure themselves, get one out and not damage the shoulder. Bobby, you make me laugh. "not sure about anything" ;D All would understand that the intentionally dropped ball is for any runner in a forced position. It's a good Rule. I've always wanted to call it, but never had the play presented to me. Here is a funny request from a manager once, and we use this senario in our coarses sometimes. No play described, ok. Offensive manager storms out of the dugout, heading for the Plate umpire, calling for interference. What he really wants to ask is for obstruction. "That's interference" the manager argues. PU stands there wondering what the manager had seen and what the manager is asking for. PU says "I have no interference." Manager, "That's interference, you have to call that" PU, "OK, so you want me to call your runner out for interference?" Manager, "Why are you going to call my runner out?" PU, "You are asking for interference" Manager, "What do you mean?" ;D |
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