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runner on 1st, one out. lazy fly ball to no mans land behind 2nd and between cf and rf. ss, 2nd, cf, and rf all converge on ball but noone can get to it. runner at first has to wait to see if ball will be caught. in meantime 1st baseman moves to bag at second base. ball drops between all four fielders(no error) rf picks it up and throws to 1st baseman covering 2nd for the force out. fielders choice? with no runners on it clearly would be ruled a hit, but with the force at 2nd is the batter penalized with a fc. just wondering.
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Definitely a FC for batter in this situation because an out was recorded. Just an observation regarding the baserunning though, The runner on first probably could have been more aggressive since the first baseman ran to cover second base. Smart baserunners pick up on the fact that the first baseman decided the ball would probably drop and followed him at least 3/4 the way. In reality 3rd baseman or even pitcher should have moved to cover 2nd base so the first baseman could stay at his bag for a possible double play if the ball was caught. My thought was that the runner could have been more aggressive if first base had no fielder covering it for a double play on caught ball
Now it is entirely possible that the pitcher ran over to cover first base because the ball was hit that way and that freed the first baseman up to rotate over and cover 2nd.
Last edited by OK Heat
Agree, except you have to be a little careful. I've seen a defensive team intentionally have the first baseman head towards second to coax the runner off first. They then back pick the runner with the catcher, who shows up out of nowhere at first base while everyone is looking at the ball in OF (including the first base coach).

Doesn't happen often and is usually done on a basehit, not the scenario described. In the case described, I agree that too frequently the runner is standing next to first base as the ball drops instead of being at least a third of the way to second.

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