- Nov 29, 2009
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Because once the ball has left her hand she is no longer a pitcher. She is now a fielder like the other 8 defensive players on the field.
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- Thread starter Mad4Ball
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Because once the ball has left her hand she is no longer a pitcher. She is now a fielder like the other 8 defensive players on the field.
- Nov 29, 2009
- 2,975
- 83
You can debate all the woulda, coulda and shoulda's all you want. When it comes to errors. You know them when you see them. That's why the scorekeepers are at the games to watch the plays live.
It boils down to whether it would have required an extraordinary play to get the out.
14.3 Base Hit
A base hit is credited to a batter when she advances to a base safely:
14.3.2 On a fair ball hit with such force or so slowly that more than a routine play is required to put out the batter-runner.
14.3.2.1 It should not be anticipated that an off-balance throw would retire a runner. A hit is credited to the batter even if the throw is wild.
14.3.2.2 When a ground ball is fielded and no throw or a late throw is made, a hit is credited to the batter unless a throw was not made or was made late because of checking or holding a base runner on base.
14.3.2.3 If a slowly hit ball or a hard-hit ball is deflected and eliminates a routine play for another fielder, a hit is credited to the batter.
A wild throw that allows runner(s) to advance an extra base are always an error. Example: Fielder attempts extraordinary play at 1B and wild throw allows B-R to advance to 2B would be a hit and an error.
14.3 Base Hit
A base hit is credited to a batter when she advances to a base safely:
14.3.2 On a fair ball hit with such force or so slowly that more than a routine play is required to put out the batter-runner.
14.3.2.1 It should not be anticipated that an off-balance throw would retire a runner. A hit is credited to the batter even if the throw is wild.
14.3.2.2 When a ground ball is fielded and no throw or a late throw is made, a hit is credited to the batter unless a throw was not made or was made late because of checking or holding a base runner on base.
14.3.2.3 If a slowly hit ball or a hard-hit ball is deflected and eliminates a routine play for another fielder, a hit is credited to the batter.
A wild throw that allows runner(s) to advance an extra base are always an error. Example: Fielder attempts extraordinary play at 1B and wild throw allows B-R to advance to 2B would be a hit and an error.
Yeah, I understand the rule. But that doesn't mean I need to agree with it...
By the way, DD is a pitcher.
Errors aren't charged for attempting a play too slowly (e.g. not charging ball), so I'm also reluctant to second guess them about rushing a play unnecessarily. I think you have judge what they did rather than what they could've done.
Her decision to rush the play is a red herring, IMO. What's important is that she made a poor throw.
It's true that mental mistakes are not scored as errors. But she's not getting an error for rushing the throw. She's getting an error for making a poor throw in a situation in which she had sufficient time (according to the OP) to make a routine one.
That's contradictory - rushing is simply going faster than normal/routine. Playing a deflected ball is not routine and you're charging an error based largely on second-guessing a timing decision.
The opportunity didn't say the SS did well to have any play on it at all. They said since the SS got there so quickly.....
I've had SS's that routinely got to deflections quickly. It could have been the case in this scenario.
I have seen many a routine play on deflected balls.
In this case we weren't told where the ball deflected to, or how far the SS had to move. We WERE told the SS got there in plenty of time to throw the runner out with a good throw.
E-6
Are you saying that if a fielder is in a real hurry to field a ball, then the play is no longer routine, and therefore the player is excused from an ensuing throwing error? Or if she's in a hurry to field an unusual play, that she is excused?
I can't agree w/ that. I'm saying that if a fielder has possession of the ball and has a routine throw to first and throws the ball away, this is an error, and what led up to that point is irrelevant. Doesn't matter why she made a bad throw as long as she had time and the throw itself was routine (ie, she was on balance).
Also, balls that deflect off the pitcher are not uncommon. Often, they become easy plays. If this particular play was more difficult, I would judge it just like any other more difficult play - a good bunt, a grounder in the hole. But once the fielder secures the ball and has a routine throw and sufficient time, she is responsible for making an accurate throw for the out, IMO. No excuse that the nature of the play short-circuited her internal clock.
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