ERROR OR NOT ?

Not that it necessarliy matters, but can you be a little more specific on what you mean by "goes for the runner"?

From your description the ball wasn’t mishandled or the throw errant, so you cannot charge an error. A mental mistake like throwing to the wrong base is not an error so the scorekeeper would have to award the batter with a base hit. You suggested a fielder’s choice but you cannot score it a fielder’s choice because there was no out --- (or error). Seems to be nothing more but poor judgment on the third baseman’s part.
Fungo

quote:

you cannot score it a fielder’s choice because there was no out --- (or error).

The out or error doesn't have any affect on this scenario. If he actually threw to 2nd in an attempt to get that runner, it's a FC for the batter (regardless of whether that runner at 2nd is safe or out.)

What actually happened was the runner from 2nd made it to third safely, somehow the third baseman missed the tag and never made a throw to first so everybody was safe. In that case I was thinking that was a fielders choice charged to the batter but not sure about an error to the third baseman. This play was described to me and I didn't actually see the play. As I was discussing it with someone else the scenario I described in the first post was brought up. We are not sure if the thirdbaseman should be charged with an error in either case. I guess the question is, should one be charged with an error for not making any play?

quote:

The out or error doesn't have any affect on this scenario. If he actually threw to 2nd in an attempt to get that runner, it's a FC for the batter (regardless of whether that runner at 2nd is safe or out.)

True (my error) the error doesn't affect the FC but we have to go deeper:
The official scorer shall credit a batter with a base hit when, as OBR says:
(6) a fielder unsuccessfully attempts to put out a preceding runner and, in the official scorer's judgment, the batter-runner would not have been put out at first base by ordinary effort.
Rule 10.05(a) Comment: In applying Rule 10.05(a), the official scorer shall always (HERE IS THE KEY PHRASE) give the batter the benefit of the doubt. A safe course for the official scorer to follow is to score a hit when exceptionally good fielding of a ball fails to result in a putout.

The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
(4) fielder fails in an attempt to put out a preceding runner and, in the scorer's judgment, the batter-runner could have been put out at first base.

We have to remember theses words --IN THE OFFICAL SCORER'S JUDGEMENT!!

Fungo, you've really gotten to the heart of the matter. I had assumed from the original post that a throw was actually made to 2B in an attempt to get that runner.

Where it really gets interesting is this:

quote:

What actually happened was the runner from 2nd made it to third safely, somehow the third baseman missed the tag and never made a throw to first so everybody was safe

In this scenario, I think there could legitimately be an error AND an FC awarded. The error, because the missed tag resulted in prolonging the life of that baserunner ... and the FC if in the scorer's judgment "the batter-runner could have been put out at first base." (from your post).

Whaddya think?

I think we agree that the situations call for a ruling of fielder's choice, in all likelyhood the batter would have been out had a throw been made to first base. However since no throw was made and no putout recorded does the thirdbaseman receive an error?

RPD, Thanks I see you posted just before I did.

I know this is pushing it but what if there was no throw throw form the thirdbaseman to either base, let's say he chased the runner back to second but the runner was safe. It's not good basball but I have seen it happen. Does he then receive an error?

an attempt was made, poor attempt maybe, but an attempt to get the guy out, FC.