Skip to main content

1 reply

4th Out?

Frozen Ropes GMFrozen Ropes GM1,000+ posts
The following took place in an AABC Connie Mack tournament (OBR-American League rules):

One out in bottom of the 7th (last inning unless extras). Home team is at bat with runners on 2B and 3B and trailing by one run.

Deep line drive is hit into RF corner and both runners take off without tagging apparently thinking there is no way RF can make play. RF makes a great catch for out #2, gets up and throws to cutoff. Both runners have crossed home plate. Cutoff relays to second base for appeal and runner is called out to end inning and game.

This was the first part of the tournament championship game as the losing team was undefeated and had to be beaten twice. That team rebounded and won the 'if' game to make earlier game a moot point. Well after the games were over this question came up about how game one ended......

Since runner at 3B was never appealed for leaving early did his run count?
(which would have resulted in a tie game)

-- Formerly Dallas Knights GM

Last edited {1}
Original Post
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
If it were properly called, the runner from 3B's run should have counted unless and until a proper play (either while the ball was still live, or immediately after by a proper appeal) was made to get him out at third base for having left early.

Many people think of the play made, in this case, on the runner who left 2nd early as if it were a force play. It is not. It is a "time play". This means that if the other runner crosses the plate before the third out is made, the run counts. In order to get the run off the board, you would have to record an out on the runner who left third early and scored.

This is the classic "4th out" play and it is a standard item in rule trivia quizzes.

Note, however, that if the runners were not going hard, it is possible that the RF's throw to 2nd recorded the third out before a runner crossed home. If the third out occurred before the runner crossed home, there was never a run in the first place and thus, no appeal would be necessary.

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×