# Boston-Cleveland, Bottom of 4th Error?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 7, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890 "2016-10-07T22:31:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890/1 "2016-10-07T22:31:27Z")

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In the bottom of the fourth, when the Cleveland batter hit the ball up the third base line, the Red Sox 3rd baseman bobbled the ball. I can’t tell for certain, but I do not believe they scored this as an error. Why not? There was no reason the 3rd baseman could not have taken control of the ball. While I know you cannot anticipate the double play, I don’t know we cannot anticipate that the runner coming into 3rd should have been out. (Note: I am not sure if the runner was forced, but from what I saw, he would have been an easy out, regardless.)

What’s the deal on this? What did you see?

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**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890/2 "2016-10-08T02:02:57Z")

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> [@Jinx](#):
>
> In the bottom of the fourth, when the Cleveland batter hit the ball up the third base line, the Red Sox 3rd baseman bobbled the ball. I can’t tell for certain, but I do not believe they scored this as an error. Why not? There was no reason the 3rd baseman could not have taken control of the ball. While I know you cannot anticipate the double play, I don’t know we cannot anticipate that the runner coming into 3rd should have been out. (Note: I am not sure if the runner was forced, but from what I saw, he would have been an easy out, regardless.)
> 
> What’s the deal on this? What did you see?

I missed the game, but ESPN’s play-by-play says he got the force out at third, so no error would have been charged.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890/3 "2016-10-08T02:08:02Z")

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Indeed, Holt booted an easy double play ball but did manage to get the lead runner at 3rd out. No error is charged, rightfully so by rule.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-cleveland-bottom-of-4th-error/767890/4 "2016-11-08T16:21:49Z")

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Ok, thanks. TV broadcasting is so loose. You wonder if the broadcasters are even playing attention, or just chatterboxes… in my opinion.