Runner Always Scores on Infield Single

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by BIG17EASY

Yes, of course there are. They aren't quite as varied in real life, because in real life you can literally stand anywhere on the field.

True, but standing really close to the batter is a very bad idea.

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

True, but standing really close to the batter is a very bad idea.

Pete Rose didn't think so....at least when Mickey Rivers was at bat....

[ToTheBackstop]

Originally Posted by majesty95

My issues is this: if it is a tie game, say 4-4 in the 7th inning, with a runner on third and one out and there is a ground ball to short, always, in my short experience so far, the fielder goes to first and allows the run to score. You allowed them to take the lead to get an out.

In my opinion, and what I was taught growing up playing baseball, was that you looked the runner back and then made the throw to first.

Not exactly the same scenario, but I just had this and thought of this thread. 8th inning, none out, runners on 2nd and 3rd, defensive team down by 1 (so it's a close game, and they're really not going to want to fall any further behind). Grounder to the right side, the first baseman takes it and flips to the pitcher for the first out. Runner on 3rd does not advance.

(I was actually a little surprised by this, in that the baserunner is reasonably fast and the PbP didn't indicate that batted ball was smoked when put in play.)

For what it's worth, I've long thought it would be nice if the PbP sometimes mentioned that the infielder looked the baserunner back to the bag before firing to first for the out.

[BoomerSoonerAMH]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Unless the scorer decides it would have been a hit all the way.

Actually, the scorer doesn't have any discretion in this situation. If an infielder (including the catcher or pitcher) puts out a preceding runner attempting to advance or return to his original base, or would have put out a preceding runner with ordinary effort but failed to do so due to a fielding error, the batter is credited with a time at bat but no hit is awarded (OBR 10.05b(3)).

If the batter hits the ball in such a manner that there is no possible way the defense could put him out, but another runner is put out trying to advance home, no hit is given to the batter. Even if it were the extreme example of the batter bunting to beat a weird shift but the runner on 2nd or 3rd falls to the ground and is unable to continue running due to an injury and is put out by an infielder, the batter is still not credited with a hit. Even if everybody in the park, including the scorer, knew the play would have been a hit except for the injury (or even a base running blunder), the rules do not provide an exception to allow a hit to be scored. The only time an element of judgement could be injected into this situation is if a fielding error prevents the put out from being completed, in which case the official scorer has to determine if the out would have been made with ordinary effort.

I've been scoring games for over 15 years now (I'm only 32, so close to half my life), so I had to chime in. I hate to use my first post to correct the Magnificent Markus, Creator of Pure Excellence, but hopefully bestowing this title upon him will prevent him from banishing me for the glorious kingdom of OOTP.

PS: Great game - only started playing a couple of years ago but hooked me from the start.