ok classicblast

[Jason O'Lewa]

ok classicblast, my dad and my brother and me went to a baseball game yesterday. A minors game. We thought of you and talked about you a bit.

I have a few questions though

questeon 1
there was a play where a 3rd baseman didnt even try to make a double play he only threw to first
i coudl see that if there was 2 out take a choice but there was 1 out and they didnt even try to get the double play they just threw to first
have you ever heard of that?

question 2
there was a time the called a guy out at second base and the shortstop or 2b man dropped the ball. clearly dropped it. they still called him out and they barely aruged.
my dad even said if that was me id be jawing at that ump

question 3
a outfeider specifically the left fielder ran far to get teh ball he got there the and dropped the ball but it was right in his glove and they ddnot call that an error whats the diference between an error or not in a case like that?

last question. that same play the dropped ball ended up a triple. they ended up getting him in a rundown cause of a wild pitch how do the runners decide to run or not? to avoid gettting handcuffed that way?

[Classicblast]

Wow those are some pretty good questions.

I think I can answer them all though.

1. I obviously wasn't there but in a well executed hit-and-run, the runner is on the way before the pitch reaches the plate. Almost a stolen base situation but the batter is sure he can at least hit the ball. By the time it reaches the infielders they already know its too late to get the lead runner so they take the definite out. Throwing to 2nd at a time like that you're not going to get either runner.

2
If the fielder had the ball and his foot tagged the bag and the runner is not also touching the base the put out has been made even if he doesn't hold onto the ball. If the ball and the runner reached the base at the same time and he dropped it then that was a bad call the runner would be safe. If I am reading you correctly the fielder had the ball and the base touched and undoubtedly was ahead of the runner the runner is out regardless if he dropped the ball. That comes up occasionally.
Like the infield fly rule even if the fielder doesn't catch it the batter is out.

3
Error is a tough one to read. The umpires call what they want in that case. How its supposed to be judged is if the ball was one that should have been a routine or not a heroic play to make happen. I was charged an error one time in particular I jumped I swear I my glove was 10 feet in the air and it skimmed off the top of my glove. That would have been a miraculous grab the fact that I touched it should not have made it an error.

So your left fielder, if he ran a long distance and happened not to catch it if it was near the baseline or the fence and he came from his position to get there that's not going to be called an error. If he stands under it hovers for a moment and he loses it thats different.

The wild pitch? The base coach probably needed to tell his runner to hold.

In fairness not being there, maybe he did but the guy took off anyway. Most wild pitches get away from the catcher enough to get a base or even the run of you're on third. But a catcher in this instance is similar to a hockey goaltender. If he gets a piece of it slowing it down he can keep the ball in play and running 90 feet working against a catcher, a pitcher and a 3rdbaseman is destined to be an out.


I hope that answers.

[Phil]

That makes sense. I never knew about the touch the base and glove rule. I always thought if the guy loses the ball the runner would be safe.

[Classicblast]

Aug 19, 2011 14:20:59 GMT -5 Phil said:

That makes sense. I never knew about the touch the base and glove rule. I always thought if the guy loses the ball the runner would be safe.

If the runner was at the base you'd be right but if the fielder was ahead of the runner and had control of the ball and was touching the bag even for a moment that's long enough.

[Classicblast]

I am pulling for the Texas Rangers to win the World Series only because they have never won one before. It's been a long time for the Cardinals too so either team would be cool.

[Phil]

I usually pull for the NL team so I'm for the Cardinals. But it is cool to see two teams that haven't been contenders in a long time or maybe even at all in the running.

[Classicblast]

It looked good for your Cardinals in game 3 with that 16-7 win but the Rangers have come back strong and now lead the series 3 games to 2. Obviously the remaining two games (if we need both of them) are going to be played in Busch Stadium in St. Louis. But the Rangers are in a good spot needing to win one of two road games to seal the deal.

Game 6 Wednesday. The Rangers could close it out but if the Cardinals win the final game is Thursday and its a winner take all final.

[Phil]

I'm good luck for the NL team. I watched game 1 and 3 but only parts of game 2 and 4. Game 5 I watching but about 10:15 I had to head for work. That's even a late departure for me but I can still make it on time if I leave a little after 10. The Cardinals had the lead when I left but I find out the Rangers ended up winning the game.

At least the Rangers have never won a series so it could be cool for them too.

I was in 6th grade when the Cardinals won their last series back in 1982. Darrell Porter was the series MVP. See Classic, I know my baseball.

[Classicblast]

David Freese brought the Cardinals to a series tie. A homerun in the 11th inning. He also tripled in the 9th to tie the game. I am partial toward 3rdbasemen but I still am pulling for the Rangers.

I also have to say I love baseball enough I am glad to see it go the full 7 games.

[Classicblast]

The Cardinals won.

I don't know how many others were following but it looked like the Rangers didn't come to play tonight. Its as if they either emptied the tank last night and had nothing left, or they had the strangle on the Cardinals and couldn't finish it and felt sorry for themselves from there.