Here’s one in the Pirates-Reds game that could have been a question:
Situation:
Runner on 3rd and two outs. A low line drive is hit towards third about 4 inches off of the ground. The third baseman dives to his left and makes the catch. He stands up and shows the umpire the ball. OUT. Third baseman flips ball to coach and trots off.
Replays showed that it was the correct call and no challenge was made. But lets say that the replay showed that he trapped the ball. Should the run score? Should it not score and an out be called at first (assuming that but for the out call, the third baseman would have thrown out the runner)? Does the fact that he showed the ball to the umpire factor in and show that he couldn’t have thrown him out? Should the umpires consider the speed of the batter-runner? How do they do that?
What could either call possibly be based on that wouldn’t be a coin flip? Do the replay rules contemplate this?
Let’s up the stakes and say it was the bottom of the ninth. Do you call the game over and award a run?
I can’t envision how a run would be awarded in this scenario. I think it’s reasonable to assume that the third baseman would have looked the runner back to the bag before throwing to first, had he needed to make the play.
It’s quite a bit less clear what the ruling would have been with the batter. I don’t see how you could rule that the batter would have been thrown out at first,since presumably he would have stopped running once he was called out on the field. At the same time, it seems ‘unfair’ to award the batter first base, since the incorrect call on the field would have essentially removed the defense’s opportunity to even attempt to throw out the batter.
Remember that there are two outs. There would be no reason to look the runner back. And with two outs, the runner was moving on contact.
But you do make a good point. What if the batter trotted off of the field as well?
As I watch the replay, the third baseman was playing close to the line. He probably wouldn’t have thrown out an average speed runner. So, if the correct call was originally made, the run likely (50%) scores and the batter-runner is safe.
Or maybe he throws it in the stands and the batter-runner should be on second.
How do you replay defenders think this should turn out?
The replay rules don’t even seem to allow a challenge on this play. Challenges are allowed only on:
Potential Home Run Calls.
Non-Home Run Boundary Calls
Specified Fair/Foul Ball Calls
Force/Tag Play Calls
Catch Plays In The Outfield
Base Running (specifically passing a runner, scoring before 3rd out, whether a base was missed)
Hit By Pitch
Collisions At Home Plate
Unless the bases were loaded, there’s no reason that the runner on third would necessarily be running on contact. A play like you describe is a perfect reason why he wouldn’t be; in that case, running on contact on a sharp grounder to third results in him being thrown out at home by 30 feet. In the situation you describe here, the ‘correct’ call would probably be ‘batter safe at first, runner still on third’.
Of course, **OldGuy **has pointed out that the discussion is probably moot, as this doesn’t seem to be a reviewable play. Or are you saying that the play you are describing was in fact reviewed (and upheld)?
There was a similar play in, I think, the 1981 playoffs , in which there were conflicting calls by two umpires, and in the resulting confusion, there appeared to be a triple play. As I recall, the umpires just called outs and positioned runners in a way that would have likely prevailed if the correct call had been made immediately and all players knew from the outset what the correct call was.
This will occur more often now with the replay booth. Again, it will probably be umpires discretion to call an outcome that in their opinion would have evolved if the correct call had been clearly signaled on thei field…