Expert: Andrew Mullins - 7/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: Two questions regarding dead ball situations.

Runner on second base, and the pitcher winds up and throws the ball, which ricochets off the catcher and into the 3rd base dugout. The runner at second only advances to third correct?

Also, runner on 1st and 3rd...ground ball to third who throws it over the fence. Runner at 3rd scores, runner at 1st goes to 3rd, and batter ends up at second, correct?

Thanks!

ANSWER: Situation #1 - The runner gets ONE base after the ball becomes dead....so if he is fast %26 has already passed third, then the ball goes dead, he is awarded home.  If he's slow, then he gets third only %26 runs extra laps on Monday if I am the coach....lol

Situation #2 - You are correct....

Great questions....If this helps, please rate me positively.  If not, then contact me back...

Thanks, Andy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply. Could you explain the first situation in greater detail? I thought the rule was one base from the start of the play if the ball was from the pitcher while he was on the rubber (pickoff or wild pitch). I could be misunderstanding the rule though.

So it's one base from the base you started off at with a pitched ball, and two bases on a play from the fielder, but it depends on how the two bases were awarded depending on where the runners were when the throw was made I think.

Thanks much!

Answer
You are correct but in this situation the "start of the play" occurs with the ricochet, not the pitch...The catcher actually puts a new "force" on the ball & alters the play.  Therefore the carom, balls rolls to the dugout, & the ball becomes dead at that point.  That's when the award starts from....

Thanks again....Andy