6 ways 3rd is better than 2nd

Past ball
Wild pitch
Balk
SF
SH
IF hit
IF error
Ground out
Stolen base (home)

That's 9 -- there must be a few more.

Passed ball
Wild pitch
HBP w/ bases loaded
BB w/ bases loaded
Balk
Sac Fly

Are there any more?

I think this saying refers to six ways you can score from 3rd as opposed to being on 2nd, and so the bases loaded situations aren't really what we're talking about. The saying is an argument that some are overly conservative about advancing to 3rd, on the justification that you don't want to risk losing a runner from scoring position. (And I'm not going to take sides in that argument!)

I'm not sure what the "official" list might be, but here's at least 6 that come to mind:

1. Loose balls, including wild pitches, passed balls, errant pickoff throws, etc.
2. Balk
3. Steal
4. Some hits allow runner to score from 3rd but not 2nd, e.g., infield hits
5. Ground out (if less than 2 outs)
6. Fly out (if less than 2 outs)

Now that my memory has been jostled a little it was 9 ways. Bases loaded situations do not count. Thanks Midlo Dad.

The balk has to be broken down a little further. There is the pitcher's balk which everyone is familiar with and then there is the catcher's balk (catcher interference) that can happen.

That would be all 9 if my calculations add up.
Wild Pitch ~ Passed Ball ~ IF error ~ Squeeze Bunt ~ Pitchers Balk ~ Weak Single ~ Sac Fly ~ Fielder's Choice ~ Straight Steal Is that 9? # 10 Cather's Balk

I think those are the 9 I mentioned above -- catcher's interference is an E2 -- I don't think runner's advance unless a hit ball results in the runner safely reaching first -- which is included in the listed items. <-- I'd have to check the ruling on that...

Do I win a daily supply of Sweet'n'Low?

Get them to 3rd if you can. I have no problem bunting with 1 out and a runner on 2nd if the situation presents itself.

Of course, it depends on where we are at in the line-up.

Old philosophy that works pretty good; Get em to 3rd and then pray for a PB or WP Love this game!

Catchers balk and catchers interference are two different things. Balk is when attempting an intentional pass, catcher steps out of catchers box too early. That does advance runners.

Catchers interference is like any interference play - runners DO NOT advance. In fact saw an interference play happen in son's game this weekend at 2nd base on attempted double play with a runner at 3rd and no outs. The batter was called out due to runner's illegal slide at 2nd (interference) and the runner at 3rd (who had crossed the plate on the play) was sent back to third and did not score. Correct call, but sure made some parents hot!

Witnessed a catcher's balk called in 1997 that ended a playoff series between Highland Park and Wylie.

Tie game in bottom of 7th in game three. HP had runner on third with one out. Wylie was attempting to intentionally walk the batter and ump called catcher's balk giving HP the win and the series.

First and only time I have ever seen it called. I was sitting behind home plate and didn't see any infraction. Made it even more difficult for Wylie as it was Sam Terry's final game as baseball coach. Parents weren't too happy about that call either.

A catcher’s balk does occur when the catcher sets up outside the catcher’s box or leaves the box too soon on an intentional walk. Catcher’s obstruction, where the catcher at the ‘time of pitch’ reaches over the plate or steps across the plate to try and tag a runner attempting to steal home from third base is still sometimes referred to as ‘catcher’s balk’ though I agree perhaps inappropriately.

The catcher obstruction is a ‘delayed dead ball’ infraction (not error, though certainly an error in judgement) and if the runner from third is tagged out the obstruction is enforced thus scoring the runner and putting the batter-runner on first. If a runner, say on second had been attempting to steal third he would be allowed to stay on third. However, any runner not attempting to advance during catcher obstruction would stay on the base occupied at time of pitch unless forced to advance do to the award. Certainly with all this being said had the runner from third scored, batter-runner reached first and any other runners reached the next base while attempting to advance at the time of pitch then the obstruction is ignored.

Just another way to score from third.

In High School ball you have always been able to award the base without throwing 4 balls. I'm wondering why they were throwing em anyway.
Help me out on this rule guys. Am I dreaming?

Swingdoc - I have always wondered if there was even a catcher's balk rule in HS ball for that very reason. I could be wrong but I recall it being an intentional pass that resulted in the catcher's balk in that HP-Wylie game.

I'll ask Coach Terry next time I see him.

Swingdoc - It would seem that my memory is not as good as I thought. Funny, but I always imagined that would be the second thing to go....

On that play in '97, Coach Terry says the scenario was correct but that the catcher's balk was called on a squeeze play. Wylie defensed the squeeze with a pitch out but plate ump Kenny Crow said that the catcher left the box before the ball had left the pitcher's hand.

Well, I am now off to purchase some Ginkgo Biloba....

No Problem but it does add # 10 to the list on ways to score from 3rd compaired to 2nd. BTW We all remember things a little more cloudy than they actually were. My bride reminds me of it all the time.

and John....that's not the last thing to go (or so I've heard)....