Deep cut nerdy baseball thought: Runner on first. Chandler... Simpson hits a grounder. Could you argue that it's better to get Simpson out at first than to get the lead runner? Essentially that Simpson being on base at all is more threatening than the other runner advancing to scoring position? Probably not in this spot, but I think it becomes an interesting discussion if for example there's no outs and a weak-armed catcher. When the Yankees faced the Rays in April, Simpson basically was instantly on third base every time he got onshow more

This is the reason that coaches and parents go... bonkers sometimes. This play at home left people baffled. The runner is rounding third and headed for home. The throw to the catcher gets there way ahead of time of the runner. The catcher catches the ball, waits for the runner and applies the tag. Easy out right? 💯 The umpire calls obstruction on the catcher and said he was obstructing the runner from scoring. The runner is safe! 🤯 That may be one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen on any level. The ball arrived so early that the catcher could have sat on home plate and had lunch waiting for that runner. If you have the ball you can be right there waiting to tag the runner when he comes in. What do you think? Obstruction or not? Was the catcher not giving the runner a fair path to home plate or was the umpire watching a game on another planet?show more

🚨SCORING RULE ALERT🚨 This was from tonight’s Red Sox... at Colorado Rockies game, and this was correctly scored as a fairly rare walk-off triple You can see on the high home that the winning run scored before Jake McCarthy got to third, but this is covered in the comment for rule 9.06(f) “The Official Scorer shall credit the batter with a base touched in the natural course of play, even if the winning run has scored moments before on the same play. For example, the score is tied in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on second base and the batter hits a ball to the outfield that falls for a base hit. The runner scores after the batter has touched first base and continued on to second base but shortly before the batter-runner reaches second base. If the batter-runner reaches second base, the Official Scorer shall credit the batter with a two-base hit.”show more

Roberto Clemente at the age of 37 with a... Massive Outfield Throw to Home Plate to prevent the runner from scoring during game 6 of the 1971 World Series It’s telling that with 2 outs, the runner on 1st, Mark Belanger doesn’t even think about scoring on a double to the right field corner. Belanger, who had good speed, was a smart enough base runner to just drop anchor at third base rather than challenge Clemente’s arm. Watching the throw, he obviously made the right decision.show more

🚨SCORING RULES ALERT🚨 This is from today's Detroit Tigers... at New York Mets game. Here, with Workman on second, Zach McKinstry hits a fly to left that lands, and Workman is thrown out 7-5 at third base. This was ruled a single, and the question has been asked as to why. First, this is the correct scoring, as this is a single. If this were a ground ball to short, and the runner is out 6-5 at third on a ball that would have otherwise been a hit, this would have been a fielder's choice, and the difference is in the wording on rule 9.05(b)(3), which says that you do not score a hit when a: (3) pitcher, the catcher or any infielder handles a batted ball and puts out a preceding runner who is attempting to advance one base or to return to his original base, or would have put out such runner with ordinary effort except for a fielding error. The Official Scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit; The key is in the McKinstry play, the ball is handled by an outfielder, and not the pitcher, catcher, or any infielder. Another one of those fun weird scoring rules that is great to have in your back pocket for when it comes up.show more

On two different occasions, when the runner rounded third... base to come home, the catcher not only crowded the plate but also stuck out her elbow as the runner crossed home plate. One of the shadiest actions I’ve seen in a long time. After the second one, next time I would be coming through that baseline and spearing that catcher into a wheelchair.show more

The Twins loaded the bases with no outs when... Mark Vientos tried to nab the lead runner at third base on this sacrifice bunt attempt. The next batter, Luke Keaschall, put them ahead on an RBI single. The Mets are three outs away from losing their 12th in a row.show more

On a night full of ST blunders, none was... worse than Trenton Simpson ruining one of the best punts of Jordan Stout's (so far underwhelming) career. This ball is likely coming to rest. At worst, there was time to get in position.show more

This batter hits a hard shallow liner into right... field. The right fielder is charging and fires to first. The ball is overthrown and the runner looks but decides to stay at first. The catcher backed up the overthrown ball and throws to first and he rages the runner. The umpire calls him out and says he made an attempt to go to second base. I think he looked but I don’t see an attempt. He stayed in fouls territory the whole time. Just because his head looked doesn’t mean he made an attempt. 50/50 people saying he’s out for an attempt and others say no attempt, he should be safe. What’s your call? Safe or out? An attempt to second or no attempt?show more

.Jax State Baseball recruit & ‘24 SS Cade Miles... (Cade Miles; Hartselle Baseball) all over this one & drives it to deep RF for a triple in the 1st. Tigers try to send the runner, but a strong throw cuts him down at the plate. Still threatening w/ runner on 3rd & one out. Still 0-0 in Game 2, T1. #ALHS24show more

Legal move or no? This is how our 15U... lost today at the Prep Baseball nationals. 1st & 3rd, lefty on the mound. Our guy goes on leg raise, pitcher recognizes & fakes to first, disengages and throws him out at 2B. We were told confidently that it is a legal move on an “advancing” runner. My understanding is a pitcher cannot fake a pick to 1B while still engaged with the rubber?! Every fiber in my body thinks this is a balk. Zoom for a better look..show more

Rockies down 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th... with runners on 1B & 2B & they base hit bunt. The Red Sox are not surprised. They close with their 3B & 1B BUT their second baseman is way out of position to get to 1B before Cole Carrigg(A plus runner). In this situation the 2B can’t hold the runner on 2B & beat Carrigg to 1B. Looked like everything slowed down due to his lateness getting to 1st base. The SS has to hold the runner at 2B & the 2B has to cheat his positioning towards 1B so he beats Carrigg. It appears like they are hedging their positioning to protect the 6 hole in case Carrigg swings the bat. You can’t play everywhere. If you expect a bunt, you have to be in the best position to defend the bunt. The bunt was excellent. It was an early turn base hit bunt. Great direction & speed. The BHB choice put Carrigg in a better position to get out of the box fast(After seeing the ball down) & just beat the play to 1B. Of course you can argue that both teams did what they were supposed to do & the Rockies just out executed the Red Sox.show more

Wait, this is the guy Yankees fans been clamoring... for all offseason? The one who got called out for not running out a ground ball to first base — the thing Yankees fans get on players for all the time? Oh. 😳😂show more

This batter hit a tapper back to the pitcher.... The pitcher fields the ball and runs to tag the runner from third trying to score at home. Umpire’s call is out! But on closer inspection, the pitcher takes the ball out of her glove and holds it in her hand but tags the runner with the glove. I say the runner should have been safe. You make the call.show more

Anyone have something on this? Was probably the best... single out of my high school times in my opinion. Ended up losing this one but energy of the game and chance to get the runner out was a memory that will last forever. How can you not like baseball !!!show more

Ben Roethlisberger on Lamar Jackson; “You don’t fear him... sitting in the pocket and picking you apart.” Teams FEAR Lamar the runner MORE THAN the passer, but don’t use that to tear him down. For example, Lamar’s Career Passer Rating and QBR in the pocket is better than Big Benshow more

This runner at first was caught in a pick... off move by the pitcher. Pitcher throws to first and the first baseman fires to second and the umpire calls him out. He looked safe on the play. However, the umpire admits he was safe but said he called him out because the other team was losing 10-0 in the first inning. He said “he was so safe but I just gave it to them.” Basically saying we gotta’ get the game moving right? Fellow umpires, some coaches and parents said they respect the call and why. But many people said you are cheating that one runner by calling him out. They said no matter the score you have to have integrity even if it is 20-0. They said this is why kids grow up disliking umpires and why parents act the way they do. Tough one- I actually understand where he is coming from but if that were your kid, would you want him called out? I say call the game the right way 100% and let it play out the way it is supposed to. How is the other team supposed to get better if you are giving them calls? Do you agree with the umpire and why he did it? Or, are you totally against that and that should never happen?show more

Can we all agree this is BAD BASEBALL across... the board? Friedl dropping a routine fly ball, Amaya still standing on first base It’s a tie game in the 8th and we’re not trying to get on 2nd base out of the box?show more

Here is the play folks are asking about, and... I don't see an error here. Triolo doesn't make an attempt at the runner going to second, so it cannot be a fielder's choice, and the struggle to get the ball out of his glove isn't an error unless there is a complete loss of contact/bobble with air, and I don't see that either, and Happ then beat out the play at first. I don't see where the error is because Happ is on the base before the ball gets to first. There is an error for the advancements after the bad throw, but I have a single and not an assumed out here.show more

Middle infielders: I’m a believer in taking the throw... from in-front of the bag on a stolen-base attempt. The main reason why: Catchers aren’t always going to put the ball on the bag. A common miss is arm side, causing the throw to tail towards first base. When you're in-front, you have freedom to move toward a bad throw without the runner sliding underneath or into you. You can catch it, make the tag, and potentially keep a bad throw from getting into center field. If you straddle the bag, your range can become limited once the runner starts sliding in. In order to do this, you must LET THE BALL TRAVEL Don't reach out, catch it early, and then bring your glove back to the runner. You're wasting valuable time. Let the ball travel over the bag and make a quick tag. If he's out → quick tag If he's safe → tag and HOLD IT. Give him a chance to come off the bag. Get in-front Let the ball travel Catch it late Tag quicklyshow more