Are There Any BASEBALL Fans On The Forum?

[jerryd6818]

Holy cats. The Fish murdered Milwaukee last night 16-0.

[OLDE CUTLER]

OK, MLB fans. There is a possible play that could happen in a baseball game where 4 outs would be recorded in an inning. To my knowledge it has not happened yet in MLB, but it is possible. Anyone have any ideas?

The bases are loaded with no one out. Batter hits a deep fly ball to the outfield. Runners on first and second don't believe the ball will be caught and advance. Runner on third thinks the ball will be caught, and goes back to tag up. Fielder catches fly ball, one out. He throws the ball back in to second base before the advancing runner can get back, second out. The ball is then thrown to first before that runner can get back, three outs. But the runner on third has tagged up and scored before the third out has been recorded. That run counts. But the defenders make an appeal play at third saying that the runner left third base before the outfielder caught the ball, and their appeal is upheld, meaning the run does not count because the runner from third is out, 4 outs.

Added Note:
It has been brought to my attention that once the third out is recorded, there can be no further activity in that inning. I had read about this very event almost happening in a baseball game in Cuba. Baseball Reference has a paragraph about this on their website.

[jerryd6818]

Cubs 5 - Cardinals 1

And now it's off to Home Run City of the National League to play three with the Rockies, then four more with the Dodgers.

[edge213]

Great series for us Jerry, now if we can just beat them in St Louis.

[Mumbleypeg]

Congrats y’all on the sweep. Seems this year whoever is the home team in that Cards/Cubs series wins, at least so far. I’m betting that changes before long.

OC, I have no idea whether the scenario you describe has ever happened in MLB, but it’s my understanding if the runner scores before the third out is executed, the run counts. Only after the third out is executed is the ball dead and that half-inning over. Technically the “fourth out” isn’t necessary - because the runner on third failed to tag up before advancing, he did not in fact legally score before the third out was executed.

Ken

[jerryd6818]

The third out is the final out of the inning. What ever happens after that goes in the bit bucket and has zero effect on the game.

[Mumbleypeg]

Not often seen, but a straight steal of home plate has to be one of the most exciting plays in baseball! This from yesterday.

Ken

[OLDE CUTLER]

The third out is the final out of the inning. What ever happens after that goes in the bit bucket and has zero effect on the game.

Aah, that is not so. Read the explanation where the 4th out could come into play by a defending team that knows the rule.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fourth_out

[OLDE CUTLER]

Congrats y’all on the sweep. Seems this year whoever is the home team in that Cards/Cubs series wins, at least so far. I’m betting that changes before long.

OC, I have no idea whether the scenario you describe has ever happened in MLB, but it’s my understanding if the runner scores before the third out is executed, the run counts. Only after the third out is executed is the ball dead and that half-inning over. Technically the “fourth out” isn’t necessary - because the runner on third failed to tag up before advancing, he did not in fact legally score before the third out was executed.

Ken

That is not the way the tag up and advance rule works. The runner is always considered safe UNTIL the fielders make an appeal play to the base in question. The 4th out rule explains how this could be used by the defenders to cancel the run scoring this way. In fact this did happen in a MLB game in 1980, but the fielding team was not aware of the fourth out rule and did not use it. Check the link below:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fourth_out

[Mumbleypeg]

Congrats y’all on the sweep. Seems this year whoever is the home team in that Cards/Cubs series wins, at least so far. I’m betting that changes before long.

OC, I have no idea whether the scenario you describe has ever happened in MLB, but it’s my understanding if the runner scores before the third out is executed, the run counts. Only after the third out is executed is the ball dead and that half-inning over. Technically the “fourth out” isn’t necessary - because the runner on third failed to tag up before advancing, he did not in fact legally score before the third out was executed.

Ken

That is not the way the tag up and advance rule works. The runner is always considered safe UNTIL the fielders make an appeal play to the base in question. The 4th out rule explains how this could be used by the defenders to cancel the run scoring this way. In fact this did happen in a MLB game in 1980, but the fielding team was not aware of the fourth out rule and did not use it. Check the link below:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fourth_out

OC, all I can say is, you must have been a college professor. Reminds me of some of the trick questions I used to get!

Ken

[gsmith7158]

Well I don't know about 4 outs in an inning, but I do know that my Bravos have beaten the Pirates tonight and it appears that the Phillies will rise in the morning to find that they have a berth mate for first place in the East.

[steve99f]

I hope we can make it interesting Greg.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Congrats y’all on the sweep. Seems this year whoever is the home team in that Cards/Cubs series wins, at least so far. I’m betting that changes before long.

OC, I have no idea whether the scenario you describe has ever happened in MLB, but it’s my understanding if the runner scores before the third out is executed, the run counts. Only after the third out is executed is the ball dead and that half-inning over. Technically the “fourth out” isn’t necessary - because the runner on third failed to tag up before advancing, he did not in fact legally score before the third out was executed.

Ken

That is not the way the tag up and advance rule works. The runner is always considered safe UNTIL the fielders make an appeal play to the base in question. The 4th out rule explains how this could be used by the defenders to cancel the run scoring this way. In fact this did happen in a MLB game in 1980, but the fielding team was not aware of the fourth out rule and did not use it. Check the link below:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fourth_out

OC, all I can say is, you must have been a college professor. Reminds me of some of the trick questions I used to get!

Ken

No I ain't no purr-fessor, just a lifetime baseball fan. Since we were kids, my younger brother and I have been MLB fans. We text back and forth with baseball trivia and odd plays from the days games. I had been doing research on what is the rarest play in MLB history, that is a play that resulted from a single pitch. That is how I stumbled upon this 4th out business. There are more accounts of the 4th out on Wikipedia, with several examples in recent years because of the rule change in MLB when replay came in. After all this research, I can say what I believe is the rarest play in baseball, having only happened once in MLB history. On July 25, 1956 Roberto Clemente came to the plate at Forbes Field in the bottom of the 9th inning with the bases loaded and the Pirates trailing the Cubs by 3 runs. Clemente then hit what is the ONLY occurrence of the "walk off, inside the park grand slam home run". For this to even happen, a number of things must first occur. It can only happen with the winning team playing at home either in the bottom of the ninth inning or extra innings. Also the home team must trail by 3 runs. Can you imaging watching this play unfold, all 9 fielders would be in motion to field the ball, relay it in for a play at home, and backing up throws. The 3 baserunners and the batter running at full speed, and the 4 umpires trying to position themselves for any rulings that may need to be made. 17 people in motion at once on a baseball diamond. This gets my vote for the rarest and most exciting play in baseball. At the end of it, Clemente ran thru the stop sign at 3rd base and scored the winning run.

[steve99f]

What a cool story OC. Interesting scenario to set that play up. Was not aware of the 4 out rule. Until now. Thanks!

[Mumbleypeg]

An unusual and somewhat funny play from Tuesday night’s Red Sox/Rangers game.

With Nomar Mazara on second base and one out, Hunter Pence comes to bat. Since Pence is a right handed hitter the Red Sox right fielder was shaded a toward center field, and the center fielder toward left field. Pence hits a long, high fly ball down the right field line, toward the foul pole (Fenway’s famous “Pesky Pole”).

The right fielder in full speed chase arrives just as the ball is coming down and makes a leaping grab toward the ball. He misses it. The ball hits the top of the fence just as the fielder crashes over the low wall and into the first row of seats. The ball careens off the right field wall and rolls along the fence toward center field. The right fielder, thinking the ball went over the fence for a home run, takes his sweet time getting off the wall. The center fielder, positioned toward left field, has a long run to reach the ball.

Meanwhile Mazara at second base and thinking the ball will be caught, is tagging up to advance to third after the catch. The batter Pence has “busted it” out of the batter’s box, and while running full speed sees the entire play happening before him. He has rounded first and is well on his way to second base by the time the high fly ball comes down, hits the wall and rolls toward center field. He said later that at the time he saw the ball hit the wall he was thinking “inside-the-park home run”.

The Ranger’s base coaches, seeing Mazara tagging up at second with Pence bearing down on him, are yelling at Pence to slow down. He’s having none of it, until he sees that Mazara is just a few feet ahead of him.

In the end Pence did not catch Mazara. He did slow down and was able to literally trot from third and crossed home plate as the center fielder was just retrieving the ball. Normally an inside-the-park home run is one of baseball’s most thrilling plays, ending with a slide at home just beating the throw. This one wasn’t even close. But it was comical.

Ken

[steve99f]

This is the kind of thing that baseball provides that helps maintain interest. That was a an odd play Ken, would have been neat to see.

Phils and D'Backs last night, pitcher's duel. D'Backs won scored 2. A shame because Eflin, pitching for the Phils had a great night but no offensive support. No wonder pitchers aren't wound too tight.

[gsmith7158]

Man oh man,judging from last night's game this series between the Phillies and the Braves is going to be a knock down dragout leave you're guts on the field deal. Braves came back in the bottom of the ninth with three runs to win it 9-8. That's some exciting baseball!

[steve99f]

I watched what turned out to be a replay of last night until it dawned on it was a replay. I changed channels figuring it was done. It wasn't. Should be a good series. Phils need to get the next 2.

I'll be conflicted between this and the open at Pebble Beach. Be a back and forth night.

[Mumbleypeg]

I watched what turned out to be a replay of last night until it dawned on it was a replay. I changed channels figuring it was done. It wasn't. Should be a good series. Phils need to get the next 2.

I'll be conflicted between this and the open at Pebble Beach. Be a back and forth night.

I would have absolutely no problem with that decision. Watching golf on television is like watching paint dry!

Ken

[gsmith7158]

Austin Riley leads of the second inning with a solo shot. What a man!

[1967redrider]

Since the DC baseball scene isn't too hot right now, how about two Camillus Babe Ruth knives?

[edge213]

Cubbies finally beat the Dodgers.
9th inning 2 run homer by Rizzo!

[jerryd6818]

And that piece of excrement Strop managed to hold on for the win. I'm glad I slept through most of the game.

[gsmith7158]

Well the Braves wound up losing last night 6-5 but wow what an exciting game it was. Kudos to the Phillies! Neither of these teams is going to go down easily. Rubber game today at 1:30 EDT.

[steve99f]

It was a good game Greg. Are we going to see your ace rookie pitcher today or what?

Ken, folks say the same thing about baseball. They are obviously heathens.