Fielders Choice Rule Question

Hube111 · Oct 15, 2018

This is either a scoring mistake, or part of the FC rules I don't know. Here is scenario. Runners on 2 and 3. DD hits a swinging bunt that is fielded by the Pitcher, who looks back the runner at 3rd and then turns towards 1st and doesn't make a throw. This gets recorded as a Fielders Choice. If the Pitcher makes the throw to first it's probably a very close play, but she chose not to for whatever reason. Does there have to be an out made for a Fielders Choice? Or is this a very fortunate base hit?

Thanks

CanOfCorn · Oct 15, 2018

I use a simple rule that if there was no error and there had been no base runner(s) would the play have resulted in an out.

In your example assume that she was lead off and did the same swinging bunt to the P. The P fields ball (doesn’t have to look anyone back)...is she out?

If yes she would have been out then a FC should be recorded, otherwise it is a HIT.

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quincy · Oct 15, 2018

No out needs to be made for sure, a throw does not even need to be made.

Easiest way to think of it is that in the scorers opinion would the batter-runner been out at 1st if no other runners were on base. Lot of opinion in this.

You mentioned the play a 1st would have been close, maybe the score keeper game batter-runner benefit of doubt.

Hube111 · Oct 15, 2018

Thanks, that clears it up. Not sure if DD beats it out if Pitcher doesn't look back runner, but it's probably close. I just wanted to understand the rule. Thanks again!

Strike2 · Oct 15, 2018

If there's doubt about P getting the out at 1B because it's a swinging bunt...log a base hit.

fuzzy2651 · Oct 16, 2018

Can you have a FC without it being a force? The OP said runners at 2nd and 3rd, so there wasn't a force anywhere besides 1st. Just asking for future situations.

SiB57 · Oct 16, 2018

fuzzy2651 said:
Can you have a FC without it being a force? The OP said runners at 2nd and 3rd, so there wasn't a force anywhere besides 1st. Just asking for future situations.

Sure, we had this situation the other day.

Runner at 2nd and 3rd, dink hit back to the pitcher. Girl on 3rd took off (didn't listen to coach) and was thrown out at the plate and tagged. Batter was safe at first. She's safe on a fielders choice.

Even if they had thrown home and not made the tag (so the run would've scored) it still would've been a FC because the fielder chose to go after another runner and not the batter. Could also be an error on the P or C but that would be independent of the FC rule in this scenario. Or, like the original question, the fielder chose to hold the runner on 3rd and not throw the batter out at 1st (on a routine out) so it's a FC, not discussing the slap bunt, maybe would've been safe, just a routine play.

Fielders Choice Rule Question

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Hube111

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