# Baseball score-keeping question re shift **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 21, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448 "2020-10-21T01:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zamboniracer2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zamboniracer2/32/3169_2.png) [@zamboniracer2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/1 "2020-10-21T01:44:06Z")
I like to keep my own scorecard at baseball games but I don’t know how to score, a fly out to the second basemen who’s position is as temporarily in position as the 4th outfielder due to a position overshift… Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/2 "2020-10-21T02:06:28Z")
Even if people play in nonstandard positions on a particular play, they are always in the game “by the books” playing a particular position. Use that number, regardless of where they happen to be. That’s my experience at least. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/3 "2020-10-21T02:37:00Z")
Yeah, I just started scoring baseball and I’ve always scored it by position regardless of where the 2B is playing ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/4 "2020-10-22T16:45:51Z")
Agreed. These days, a 4-5-3 double play certainly isn’t out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/5 "2020-10-22T17:07:37Z")
A 4-5-3 double play has always been a reasonable play. 1 out, slow runner at bat, runners on 1st and 2nd. 2nd baseman is going to go for the lead runner. If the 3rd baseman thinks he can get the batter, he’s throwing to 1 to end the inning. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-score-keeping-question-re-shift/923448/6 "2020-10-22T17:26:32Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > A 4-5-3 double play has always been a reasonable play. 1 out, slow runner at bat, runners on 1st and 2nd. 2nd baseman is going to go for the lead runner. If the 3rd baseman thinks he can get the batter, he’s throwing to 1 to end the inning I totally disagree. The second baseman is always going to make the shorter throw to second, which then results in a shorter throw to first. In fact, I’m not sure I’d ever seen a 4-5-3 DP before the shift was employed, putting the 3rd baseman in close proximity to the second base bag. Your scenario rarely, if ever, results in a double play. This [article](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24365450/from-6-4-3-1-2-3-ranking-17-types-double-plays) ranks the 17 types of double plays, and 4-5-3 isn’t even mentioned.