http://iscoresports.com/

I had something come up in a Koufax game last night, and I am waffling on whether to score it a hit or error (maybe in part because my son was involved.... ). I realize these situations usually involve scorer judgment, but I'll try to give enough detail to let the community help me with my struggle.

Two outs, nobody on. Ball is squibbed off the end of the bat by LH batter toward 3B. 3B needs to charge and has to hurry, as BR is busting down the line. He fields the ball cleanly, but on the run. From where I sat, it was difficult to see the angle of the throw, but it appeared that the throw took the 1B up the line toward home, into the basepath. The ball and runner arrive in the vicinity of 1B at about the same time, and there is a collision, but runner gets to the bag. No call whatsoever by the umpire (I yell at BR son to "stay on the bag!"). He gets back on the bag, and umpire calls (seconds later) "Safe!" In the ensuing discussion, which I thought might revolve around obstruction, the umpire is clearly heard to say "the first baseman did not get his foot to the bag."

I saw three possible scenarios: (1) this is a hit - the play required extraordinary effort on the part of both the 3B and 1B, and even though one or both may not have made his play perfectly, it was not the situation where I felt an error was justified (ultimately what I chose); (2) error on the 3B for the throw (tough, because he had to charge hard and come across his body); or (3) error on the 1B for not getting his foot on the bag, even though he caught the ball. Thje third option was really the only other one I considered, but it was really dependent on whether and by how much the ball may have beat the runner (not by much, if at all), and how far off-line the throw may have been (difficult for me to see, from where I sat on the 3B line).

I am curious how others might view this.

I am also curious, if this had been called obstruction, is the BR credited with a hit?

Thanks,

Pete

biased b/c only have your description. but sounds like hit and no errors.
( not an intentional bunt ?)

That's always a tough call especially when it involves your kid. Of course, this is a HTBT (had to be there) call, but it seems like it is a hit. You said F5 made the throw on the run. I try to judge whether the fielder could have made the play if they got set and made a better throw. If it takes a running throw to beat the runner, then I will give the batter the benefit of the doubt and give the hit.

Biased is right - that's part of why I am struggling, even though I am trying NOT to be biased or show bias in the description. I realize it is my son, but I am trying to bend over backwards not to give him a hit he doesn't deserve. Frankly, the swing didn't deserve a hit, but he did bust his butt down the line and it was a tough play defensively. And no, it was not a bunt (he's a power-hitting 3-hole hitter and is rarely asked to bunt, and certainly not with two outs and nobody on). It was a spinning squibber off the end of the bat, caused by being fooled on a two-strike off-speed pitch he got out in front of a bit.

I would be uncomfortable giving the 3B an error, and same with the 1B unless the throw was pretty much online. As I said, it didn't appear to be right online (instead a few feet up the line toward home, but it was difficult to see that. And there's the rub.

The other thing about giving the 1B an error is, this is akin to a "mental error" such as when a fielder comes in on a ball that could have been caught if he hadn't, and never gets to the ball which results in a hit. The 1B caught and held on to the ball; he just couldn't find/get his foot to the bag while doing it. Can that really be an error (at least if it isn't an error on the throw)?

I do not think it unfair to give the batter the benefit of the doubt,.. here is an excert from MLB..

Rule 10.05(a) Comment: In applying Rule 10.05(a), the official scorer shall always 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.

Hit

I call swinging bunt hit. From the description that the 3rd base throw brings the 1b down the line that means the 3rd base traveled deep towards home before the throw was made akin to a bunt. The batter hustles and wins then it is an infield hit.

Thank you all for the input. I didn't call it a "swinging bunt" because it was hit harder than that - the 3B did not have to charge as far as he would on a bunt, it was more akin to a softly hit ground ball hit to a 3B who is playing back.

Based on the feedback here, I am going to stick with my decision to give him a hit.

Actually, I was watching a baseball game the other day and there was a play exactly like this except that it was the shortstop that was fielding the ball. The ball was thrown similar to your description and the ball pull the first baseman off the bag, not really into the batter-runner, but off the base towards home. Batter reached the bag and was safe.

This play was ultimately scored as an error on the shortstop. However, all judgement calls as to whether a hit is a base hit or an error is ultimately up to the official scorer.

(Sorry for the late response, I've been working for several weeks and now I'm on vacation..lol)