About Geoff Expertise Huge baseball trivia lover! I will attempt to answer anything you can think of when it comes to major league baseball. I have a large reference library of all things baseball. Try to stump me!
I am wondering how many runs, if any, would count in this scenario, Bases Loaded, Batter hits a Home Run. Runner from third fails to touch home plate. Defense appeal is upheld and the runner is called out. I am guessing that there is an answer for 2 outs and a different one for less than 2 outs. Also what would the batter be credited with? Thanks.
ANSWER: Hi Frank,
This one kind of depends on an interpretation of the rules rather than "trivia". Here's the closest thing I kind find in the rule book:
"Rule 7.08(a) Comment: Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the baseline heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases. Even though an out is called, the ball remains in play in regard to any other runner.
This rule also covers the following and similar plays: Less than two out, score tied last of ninth inning, runner on first, batter hits a ball out of park for winning run, the runner on first passes second and thinking the home run automatically wins the game, cuts across diamond toward his bench as batter-runner circles bases. In this case, the base runner would be called out “for abandoning his effort to touch the next base” and batter-runner permitted to continue around bases to make his home run valid. If there are two out, home run would not count."
So if the runner on third didn't touch home plate (nor was he tagged out), I suppose the umpire could call him out for "abandoning his effort to touch the next base". If there are less than two outs, the batter gets credit for a 3-run home run. If there are two outs then all the rule says is that the home run doesn't count. I'm thinking all the batter would get would be credit for reaching first base on a fielder's choice(?), kind of like if the 3rd out was recorded as a force out at home.
Best Wishes,
Geoff
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hey Geoff,
I apologize that I asked a "rules" question. I thought that it was a trivia question of sort because I recall back in the 1960's and/or 70's in the sand lot we would query each other different types of questions and there was one that stuck in my mind about "the most total bases a team could get in one (1) inning without scoring a run". I couldn't remember what the final batter did. That was why I asked you the question that I did. Your reply, though, has helped me to remember that my best answer is 11. Do you agree? Thanks very much and I am sorry about my previous question.
Answer Hi Frank,
Hey no apology needed, it was really just my way of saying I wasn't sure of my answer. Trivia questions tend to have more of a definite answer while rule interpretations aren't as black and white - more a shade of gray.
In terms of "total bases" without scoring a run, wouldn't the answer be 13? The first two batters try for inside the park home runs but are thrown out at home (3 total bases each for a total of 6). The next guy hits a triple (3 more total bases, total up to 9). The next batter hits a double but the runner on third falls down on his way to home but gets back to third base safely (2 more total bases now up to 11). The next batter gets a single but the runners on third and on second each fall down and are unable to make it to the next base (1 more total base, total up to 12) but safely return to second and third base. The final batter hits a ground ball which hits one of the 3 runners in fair terrotory. That runner is called out but the batter gets credit for a single (one final total base for a total of 13) although no runner is allowed to score.
