# One of the most hilarious plays in baseball you'll ever see **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 1, 2012, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375 "2012-10-01T10:26:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/1 "2012-10-01T10:26:30Z")
There was some initial confusion about whether or not Michael Morse had hit a grand slam two nights ago against the Cardinals… And then [hilarity ensued](http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120929&content_id=39215386&vkey=news_was&c_id=was). Even the umpires, opposing catcher and opposing fans thought it was funny as hell. And the commentary just clinches it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/2 "2012-10-01T11:45:51Z")
Enlighten me as to why this happened. Is it because it would have gone into the stands were it not for the advertising board on that section of wall? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/3 "2012-10-01T12:08:42Z")
Yes. It hit the top of the outfield fence, which is a home run. But the officiating crew didn’t catch this on first glance. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/4 "2012-10-01T12:12:22Z")
I’m not sure why they made him go back to the batter’s box, but oh well, the play ended up at it should have been. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/5 "2012-10-01T12:16:25Z")
I wish that Morse had pointed to the outfield like Babe Ruth before his pantomime homerun. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/6 "2012-10-01T12:19:31Z")
I hope to see that invisible bat in Cooperstown someday. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/7 "2012-10-01T17:26:17Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I wish that Morse had pointed to the outfield like Babe Ruth before his pantomime homerun. Oh man, missed opportunity. This would have been the best thing ever. ---
**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 1, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/8 "2012-10-01T20:21:11Z")
Wow, that was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on a major league baseball field. I also can’t figure out why he would have had to go back to the batter’s box other than to make the whole play that much more hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/9 "2012-10-01T20:34:32Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > i hope to see that invisible bat in cooperstown someday. Big LOL ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/10 "2012-10-01T22:03:59Z")
Right. Okay. No… what? I thought I sort of understood this game, I mean the basics at least. Mostly. So it was a home run, and with the bases loaded, that makes it a grand slam (right?), but the officials mistakenly thought the ball didn’t go out of bounds, but on appeal they checked the video and agreed it did… Why did they make everyone physically run round again? Couldn’t they just say that’s what would have happened and award the points? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/11 "2012-10-01T22:24:05Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Right. Okay. > > No… what? > > I thought I sort of understood this game, I mean the basics at least. Mostly. > > So it was a home run, and with the bases loaded, that makes it a grand slam (right?), but the officials mistakenly thought the ball didn’t go out of bounds, but on appeal they checked the video and agreed it did… > > Why did they make everyone physically run round again? Couldn’t they just say that’s what would have happened and award the points? Even when a player hits a home run, they still must run the bases and touch each in turn, as do all of the baserunners. In addition, the batter and baserunners must remain ‘in order’ while they round the bases; any player passing the runner in front of him will result on one of the runners (I can’t recall which one offhand) being declared out. Now, normally if the ball is hit over the fence, this isn’t much of a problem. In this case, since the umpires originally ruled it a live ball, things got a bit more complicated. Specifically, the batter, after he was ruled out, left the basepath (because he was headed to the dugout). Normally, this would result in him being called out…but of course he had already been called out, so they couldn’t really punish him in this case… …all of which still doesn’t explain why they made the batter go back to home plate and make a phantom swing… …but it seems the umpires wanted to ensure that all of the runners advanced around the bases in the proscribed fashion. I don’t know if this is covered in the official rules (though it wouldn’t surprise me), but I love it if only for the batter’s body language when he’s standing back on first: “what, you want me to go back to the plate and ‘swing’ again?..Ummm…sure…OK..whatever you say, Blue” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/12 "2012-10-01T22:37:47Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > …all of which still doesn’t explain why they made the batter go back to home plate and make a phantom swing… I believe the umpires only required that Morse go back to first and run from there, since that was the last base he had touched. However, Morse figured as long as he had a do-over, he might as well have a full do-over. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/13 "2012-10-01T23:24:59Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Even when a player hits a home run, they still must run the bases and touch each in turn, as do all of the baserunners. In addition, the batter and baserunners must remain ‘in order’ while they round the bases; any player passing the runner in front of him will result on one of the runners (I can’t recall which one offhand) being declared out. > > Now, normally if the ball is hit over the fence, this isn’t much of a problem. In this case, since the umpires originally ruled it a live ball, things got a bit more complicated. Specifically, the batter, after he was ruled out, left the basepath (because he was headed to the dugout). Normally, this would result in him being called out…but of course he had already been called out, so they couldn’t really punish him in this case… Yeah but no but what I mean is… I get that there was the possibility, had the umpires called the home run correctly in the first instance, of players running the bases out of order, BUT: the officials having corrected their mistake and (presumably) negated the immediate consequences of that, is there really any need to make everyone re-set to their original positions and physically trot round the bases rather than just taking it as read, so to speak? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/14 "2012-10-01T23:30:43Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I wish that Morse had pointed to the outfield like Babe Ruth before his pantomime homerun. I was thinking that he should have slid into home, but I like your idea better. > [@kunilou](#): > > I believe the umpires only required that Morse go back to first and run from there, since that was the last base he had touched. However, Morse figured as long as he had a do-over, he might as well have a full do-over. I think all the runners had to go back to where they started, which meant someone was on first, which meant Morse had to go back home. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/15 "2012-10-01T23:51:24Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Yeah but no but what I mean is… > > I get that there was the possibility, had the umpires called the home run correctly in the first instance, of players running the bases out of order, BUT: the officials having corrected their mistake and (presumably) negated the immediate consequences of that, is there really any need to make everyone re-set to their original positions and physically trot round the bases rather than just taking it as read, so to speak? Well, when you put it that way…I certainly wouldn’t think so, but baseball is full of strange and arcane practices. If it makes you feel any better, I think everyone else involved, including the players themselves, were as confused as you are 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/16 "2012-10-01T23:53:03Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > …all of which still doesn’t explain why they made the batter go back to home plate and make a phantom swing… From the news article: > [@](#): > > At that point [batter back at home], Washington’s dugout erupted with laughter, motioning for him to take a swing, even without a bat in his hands. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina told Morse to swing, too, so Morse felt like he had no choice. > > “Everybody’s telling me to swing. I’m like, ‘No, I’m not going to swing.’ Yadi was like, ‘Swing.’ I was like, ‘All right!’” Morse said. “So I swung, and it was pretty cool.” So maybe the umps didn’t require it, but he did it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/17 "2012-10-02T00:38:40Z")
I don’t see why he has to go back to first, either. At the time the play ended you had players on second and third. One player had scored, and Morse was tagged “out” at first. If the out had counted, you’d have players on second and third. If you eliminate the “out” at first, Morse is at first. The players might have passed each other, but after Morse’s out, I would assume time was called. If they hadn’t passed each other before then (and they hadn’t), it wouldn’t have mattered if they passed each other once time was called, since the game wasn’t being played. The umpires were clearly confused, but the play should have continued with the runners where they were when Morse was tagged. Sending him to the plate was not required, but it’s been a long season and I guess the umps got confused. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/18 "2012-10-02T00:49:15Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The umpires were clearly confused, but the play should have continued with the runners where they were when Morse was tagged. Sending him to the plate was not required, but it’s been a long season and I guess the umps got confused. This is what happens when you use replacement officials. I can’t wait for MLB to get their act together and settle the locko— What? Never mind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/19 "2012-10-02T02:38:32Z")
I didn’t know MLB had video reviews. When did that start? When is it applied? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375/20 "2012-10-02T03:20:11Z")
It started in the middle of the 2008 season, and it’s only used for disputed calls regarding whether a ball was a home run or not. (Eg. whether a fly that went out of the park was fair or foul, or whether one that bounced back into the field of play hit the wall or something beyond it.) They don’t use it for reviewing balls and strikes, or questions about tags or force outs, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-hilarious-plays-in-baseball-youll-ever-see/636375.md?page=2)