Catcher picks up ball with mask
 

ML rules

A) Runner on 1B, batter bunts and 3B trying to throw him out barehanded touches ball, but cannot pick it up. Runners now on 1B and 2B, whereupon before any time is called, C picks up ball with mask.

B) Same as A, but 3B does not touch ball

7.05(b) 3 Bases

A and B are the same, since a misplayed batted ball is still a batted ball: this is a fair ball touched by detached equipment. 3 base award: if the touch occurs after the BR reaches 1B, score both runners. (7.05b)

I just saw this play on the espn highlights. Did they give the batter 3 bases?

No, the umpire crew got together and sent the BR to second and R1 to third!

I saw Mike Scioscia do this about 25 years ago. He was in the big leagues and he didn't know that rule. He still talks about it today.

which game was that ?

Moore victim of obscure rule | Mariners.com: News

Edit: turns out the video doesn't show the play, but there is a brief explanation of the situation in the article. Not much new info, though.

Seattle at Oakland....ball still live after touch by 3rd base, and catcher grabs ball rolling towards foul line with his mask...gave each runner one base....highlights showed this happend on July 11, 2009, with the A's and Rays...similar play....runners got one base then, too.....

They didn't award one base, they awarded two bases (BR to second, R1 to third). However, by rule it should have been three bases.

I stand corrected...you are right...that was the BR they waved to second...thanks....

I think there was a play last year where the catcher stopped the ball from rolling with his mask. However, I'm fairly sure it wasn't a batted ball. I think it was a pitch in the dirt.

Yeah, that's the A's-Rays game I mentioned on July 11, 2009...they showed that replay in the A's-Seattle game....low pitch and squibble slowly away from the catcher, and the catcher kind of knocked the ball toward his glove using his mask....they gave R1 one base then, too....if I recall the replay correctly....

On a pitch the award is one base.

Except, of course, in FED - where it's two.

JM

Right after we get chastised (elsewhere) for bringing up the "wrong" rules in a discussion? :D

But not with the catcher's inadvertent use of his mask to control the ball....that's the point....it changes the whole sitch...no longer has anything to do with the fact it was a pitch.....

In the Mariners play, the umpires got together and determined that the ball was no longer a batted ball after the third baseman's touch, as he had changed impetus driving the ball. Hence, the ruling that it was a thrown ball (two base award on detached equipment) rather than a batted ball (three base award on detached equipment). Interesting ruling and they get paid big bucks for this. Notice that the MLB did not make any kind of a clarification on this, so it implies they go the ruling right, despite forum members saying they got it wrong. I tend to agree with the umpires on the field, but I am a Mariners fan suffering a minor disaster of an open to the season, and may not be objective.

wtf?

Can you clarify what you mean by this? I recall nothing about the catchers intent when using his mask. I'm pretty sure it states quite clearly that it 1 base on a pitched ball, 2 on a thrown ball, and 3 on a batted ball (from time of touch).

this one was on a pitch though, so that is one base.

Quite a few comments here about it being on a pitch...award one base...My comment is that the pitch has ended, and the catcher (in the July 11, 2009 sitch) tried to shovel the loose pitched ball into his glove using his mask....it is no longer a one-base award because of a pitch...it is a two-base award for use of detached player equipment....I am not sure why I am hearing all of this anger or consternation at my statements...If I am wrong, simply state that, Please....I am trying to learn here....

Skarecrow,

Your earlier post was incoherent. Nobody could tell what you were saying.

Your most recent post is only marginally less so.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make.

JM

OK - you're wrong.

Sorry...still trying HARD to learn....how am I wrong? Seriously, try and help me out here....you are not being very helpful, which I thought was one of the goals of this forum....

You're saying that if a catcher shovels a loose pitch with his mask, you're giving one base only, because it started from a pitch? I very respectfully think that is the wrong application of the rule...

You said in your OP that the ball was still rolling. So, it's still a pitched ball. If it had gone out of play, it would have been a 1-base award. Same thing for F2 grabbing the ball with his mask.

Ok...you sound convinced, so I am convinced....I will ignore the implications of the detached equipment...I can see your reasoning....if the mask had interfered with a thrown ball (two bases)...a batted ball (impossible, but three bases)...a pitched ball (one base.) Thanks Bob, for the civil explanation.

a batted ball (impossible, but three bases)...

Not really - what if he scooped up a bunt with his mask?

What they are saying is that the ball is either a..

1) Batted ball: put in play by the bat
2) Thrown ball: thrown by a fielder

or a

3) Pitched ball: Thrown by the pitcher. It remains a pitched ball till one of the other two happen or the catcher fields it in his glove or bare hand. It your sitch 1 and 2 didn't happen and the catcher didn't field it with his glove or bare hand so it was still a pitched ball when he controled it with his mask (detached equipment).

Correct...I see that reasoning now...thanks.....