Posted by dwoolery on 1/30/2011 11:49:00 AM (view original):
Well I guess that's why I'm not a big league coach (among many other reasons). Don't know if it matters, but in this case I hadn't mentioned, tie game bottom of the 9th. I figure there's more to gain than to lose by the runner on third going on anything on the ground. If the throw comes home the defense has to field cleanly, snap throw, clean catch and apply the tag on a runner who should've had a big lead and a good jump. If he's safe, game over, if not, 1st and 2nd 2 out. That is not much different than if he stays at 3rd, the 1B makes a clean play at 1B and now 2nd and 3rd 2outs.
Once I figure out retrosheet (thanks for that hypno!) I'll be able to see for myself.
This works good in theory. However, they cant tell you how the ball was hit. I played baseball for several years, and had an almost exact situation happen. Runners on the corners, 1 out, but i think it was the 7th or 8th. Ball gets hit right down the line, Firstbasemen scoops it at the bag, and steps on bag ( out number 2), and immediately throws home. runner on 3rd had broke for home on the hit, however, the firstbaseman made a accurate throw, and the runner on 3rd was out. inning over..
Now, the runner on 3rd, with less than 2 outs,
will not take a big lead. If the batter lines out to the 3rd baseman, and your runner had a big lead, 3rd baseman just steps on 3rd, and you're out of the inning ( happens a lot in Real life, not so much in HBD.) the unwritten rule of baserunning, is basically, when on 3rd, you never take a big lead, and never stand in fair lines of the infield. You can argue that you should take one in the event of a passed ball or wild pitch, but you're going to score regardless of where you're standing. Hope this helps