Expert: Ed Spindler - 8/1/2008

Question
I was at a minor league game last night(Rockford Riverhawks v. Washington Wild Things - Frontier League).  The offensive team had a runner on first.  The batter hit a low fly ball that the catcher caught behind home plate.  The runner did not run to second. The catcher threw the ball to second base and the second baseman caught the ball and stepped on second base.  The umpire called the runner on first out. Is the runner on first really out?

Answer
John...

There MUST be more to the play than that.  I'm betting that the ball was hit straight down and went into the air where the catcher fielded the ball in fair territory.  This then becomes a force play at second base.

No umpire, not even little league, would make that glaring of a mistake.  If the play happened as you said the hitting team's manager would go berserk.

There must be more.  If it really happened the way you said, the umpire will be released sooner than later.  

A little more info is needed for me to believe that the play happened as you say.

Thanks