Forced or Not?
 

Situation: bases loaded, 2 outs, OBR, left handed batter.

Batter chops a ball that lands just in front of the plate and starts to run to first. For some strange reason the backcatcher picks up the ball and starts to chase the batter trying to tag him and ignores the fact that the runner on third is forced to go home. Catcher eventually gives up chasing and attempts to throw the ball to the first baseman but throws high and into right field. Once the dust settles, we have two runners that cross the plate and runners at second and third.

Now the question.......after the catcher picked up the ball and began to chase the batter he inadvertently stepped on home plate. Does the catcher knowingly have to touch the plate with the ball to get the force out at home or can he get the out call without knowing what he is doing?

When the backcatcher :) steps on the plate with possession of the batted ball the inning is over.

It is not an appeal play so the step can be accidental.

And the most important part, (I know it obivious), but the umpire has to see that the catcher actually inadvertently stepped on the plate. With all that action some inexperienced umpires may not pick that up.

What if the front catcher does the same?

Bacon. I want bacon.

Five Golden Tukes.

Thats a trick question because everyone knows you the then have a double play and the the defense has the option to select the forth out.

Or the back out. In this play, there is both a back and forth out. The backcatcher must claim the back out before the front catcher claims the forth out - assuming neither the cowcatcher or dreamcatchers are involved in the play, which would bring in a whole new set of options.

Also - it is only a forth out if the runner is forthed and the fielder lisps.

I'd rather have the French Toast and a beer right now.

This team has a backcatcher and a catcher?

Now TH, Tha Tha Tha Thats Funny!!!

No, it has a backcatcher and frontcatcher. The catcher is amidextrous.

am·bi·dex·trous [ àmbi dékstrəss ]

1.using each hand well: able to use the right and the left hand with equal skill
2.skillful in many ways: very skillful and versatile
3.able to catch in the front and back, as in baseball.
.

I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous.

Take off, eh? Everyone knows it's Toques, you hoser!

Sorry - I was trying to type with one hand and eat my 4 pounds of backbacon with the other.

Did you get it from the backcatcher?

I could use a toque or two after reading this thread.

I saw a movie like that once. No, wait, I mean a friend of mine saw a movie like that once. Not a close friend, more of an acquaintance really. And I was drunk. He. He was drunk. Anyway, I'm pretty sure there was some ambidextrous catching going on.