Scenario: With a runner on third and no outs, the batter hits a grounder straight to the shortstop. The shortstop looks towards third to hold the runner and then makes a good throw to first but one that is just not in time to get the out. In your opinion, if the shortstop had thrown the ball immediately rather than looking towards third base, there was sufficient time to retire the batter-runner with ordinary effort.
As the official scorer, how should you score the batter-runner’s advancement to first?
A – A single.
B - Reached on fielder’s choice.
C - Reached on error.
Highlight the text below to reveal the answer:
Answer:Â A – A single.
Rule 10.05(b)(4) states:
[The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a] fielder fails in an attempt to put out a preceding runner and, in the scorer’s judgment, the batter-runner could have been put out at first base.
But it is still a single, because Rule 10.05(b) Comment states:
Rule 10.05(b) shall not apply if the fielder merely looks toward or feints toward another base before attempting to make the putout at first base.
I disagree, he was trying to hold the runner and keep him from scoring, it should be a fielders chioce. They need to change the rule on that.
Hi Joe,
Yep, this is definitely a funny ruling, which is why I wanted to include it here. From a common-sense viewpoint, I fully agree with you that it should logically be a fielder’s choice. However, scorers must score by the rulebook, even if it is a little odd in places.
They do change rules from time to time, but I can’t see this one ever being changed, as there is a need for as consistent a definition of a hit as possible to be in place across time.
I agree with the rule. The evolution of the game has made this a very common play (check the runner, throw to 1st). The speed of the game dictates that the fielder should still be able to record the out at 1B with ordinary effort. In the case that the runner beats the (good) throw, it’s because of the speed of the batter/runner – and he/she should therefore be rewarded with a base hit.
Great subject/discussion.
I’m inclined to think of it as Fielder’s Choice, but until my recent attendance at the scorer’s clinic I’d have called it a single – see, a little bit of knowledge makes it more bloomin complicated!
Hi Justin,
That’s very amusing.
I’ve thought about the scenario some more… While not a perfect analogy, the situation described is kind of related to the holes that open up in the infield for batters to hit the ball through once players get on base. It’s just another way that it can be easier to get a hit with runners on base.
It seems to me that this cannot be recorded as a fielder’s choice, because 1st base was where the shortstop chose to throw the ball to. A fielder’s choice can only be recorded if the fielder throws the ball to a base other than the one which the batter or runner reaches on fielder’s choice. Thus the batter-runner’s advance to 1st base is recorded as a base hit, and the advance by the runner on 3rd to home plate to score a run is presumably recorded as a run batted in and not as a fielder’s choice. Is it possible for a runner’s advance from 3rd base to home plate, scoring a run, to be recorded as fielder’s choice? I know that an advance from 3rd base to home plate can be recorded as fielder’s indifference.
Thanks for this Charles.
You are correct about the defensive indifference, and a couple of examples can be found in the IBAF Scoring Manual…
See examples 50 and 51 on page 79 of Chapter 3:
http://www.gbbsa.org.uk/index.html#sib
Other than defensive indifference, I cannot think of an example of a fielder’s choice allowing a run to score from third.