Scorekeeping Question

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Feb 12, 2014
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Had a situation last night that I was a little unsure about.

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Batter hits a ground ball up the middle just to the right side of the bag. F4 takes a deep angle to the ball and dives to knock it down. Absolutely no chance to get the runner at first. She does however recover and flip the ball to F6 covering 2B. This is way late. No chance to get the runner coming from first.

Is this a Fielder's Choice or a Single?

Thanks for the help!
 
Oct 27, 2017
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Single, as described, no chance to get the runner at first. F4 had no play at 2B but made a great stop to prevent runner from advancing to 3B
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
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Single, as described, no chance to get the runner at first. F4 had no play at 2B but made a great stop to prevent runner from advancing to 3B

That is how I scored it. Does it change if it is a closer play at 2B? Is it subjective at that point?
 
Feb 12, 2014
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No subjectivity at all. Closeness is irrelevant. If runner on 1st beats the throw to 2nd, its a single. If runner is out, its a 4-6 FC.

Okay, that confuses me. Is that always the case, because I don't think so. A ground ball to F5 with a runner on first and F5 throws to second but the runner from first beats the throw is still a fielder's choice even though the runner was safe. Is it based on whether or not the fielder turns down an expected out at first? If so, then why are hard hit balls to CF that result in a force at 2nd considered Fielder's Choice?
 
Jul 29, 2012
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NC
Okay, that confuses me. Is that always the case, because I don't think so. A ground ball to F5 with a runner on first and F5 throws to second but the runner from first beats the throw is still a fielder's choice even though the runner was safe. Is it based on whether or not the fielder turns down an expected out at first? If so, then why are hard hit balls to CF that result in a force at 2nd considered Fielder's Choice?

As soon as she dove for the ball I would have scored it hit. If it was fielded cleanly and thrown to second with a fast runner then it would be a FC


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Aug 23, 2016
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Okay, that confuses me. Is that always the case, because I don't think so. A ground ball to F5 with a runner on first and F5 throws to second but the runner from first beats the throw is still a fielder's choice even though the runner was safe. Is it based on whether or not the fielder turns down an expected out at first?

Yes. Once the fielder has a play at first but chooses to make it elsewhere, it's a fielder's choice.

If so, then why are hard hit balls to CF that result in a force at 2nd considered Fielder's Choice?

If a base runner is forced out, it's a fielder's choice. It doesn't matter if it's a hard hit ball to CF or SS or 2B. It's a FC.
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
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Yes. Once the fielder has a play at first but chooses to make it elsewhere, it's a fielder's choice.



If a base runner is forced out, it's a fielder's choice. It doesn't matter if it's a hard hit ball to CF or SS or 2B. It's a FC.

Not trying to be argumentative here. Just trying to grasp this properly. You're saying two different things (maybe intentionally). A FC is when 1 - a fielder has a play on the batter runner but chooses to make a play on another runner, 2 - anytime a runner is forced out on the bases regardless of whether the fielder had any type of play on the batter runner.

You're saying it is BOTH things at the same time, correct?
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
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Not trying to be argumentative here. Just trying to grasp this properly. You're saying two different things (maybe intentionally). A FC is when 1 - a fielder has a play on the batter runner but chooses to make a play on another runner, 2 - anytime a runner is forced out on the bases regardless of whether the fielder had any type of play on the batter runner.

You're saying it is BOTH things at the same time, correct?

It's not an "and" situation it's an "or" situation. If defense throws to another base instead of taking a reasonably sure out on the batter it an FC. Always.

If a runner if forced out on a play it's always a FC. In the original question the runner beat the throw to second so it's not a fielder choice unless you can infer that the batter would have been out. Since it was a diving play to the right of F4 that's unlikely.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
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If a base runner is forced out, it's a fielder's choice. It doesn't matter if it's a hard hit ball to CF or SS or 2B. It's a FC.

Is this absolute in all instances? For example, Runner on 1, hard grounder towards the hole between F6 and second base. F6 dives, ball deflects off of her glove towards second base (not an E) and F4 gets to ball and touches 2B before R1 gets there for the force out. B1 safe at 1...and would have been a hit all day long even if there was no R1. Fielders Choice? So there is no scorekeepers judgment that comes into play?

edited - posted this before seeing the last post, so I think I know the answer.
 
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