Fly Ball in Foul Territory

[NumeroUno]

What about a real smart outfielder with great field awareness. What if the next 2 batters were weak hitters, what if the next batter up was their masher. Winning run on third let it drop and hope and pray your pitcher can do her job. I guess just take the easy way out catch the stinking ball and gun her at the dish.

[3Bsnag]

I think I have it on video, will check. If memory serves, it was an all out diving catch in foul left field. No way she could have gunned her down.

Now if only I could remember what team it was.

[artomatic]

How's this for your avatar?

or this?

[Round the Horn]

After a little hunting, the game was Alabama vs. ULouisiana-Lafayette. In the 5th inning, the score was 1-0 for Alabama.

"Alabama increased their lead to 3-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kellie Eubanks led off the inning by reaching base on an error. A single off of Bourgeois’ leg gave the Tide a pair of base runners. The next batter hit back to Bourgeois and she elected to retire the lead runner. However, the throw was off the mark and rolled into the camera deck over by third base. One run scored and left runners on second and third with no outs. Bourgeois fanned the next batter and Smith made a tremendous diving catch in foul territory to record the second out. The runner on third scored on the sacrifice to give the designated home team a 3-0 edge." From an Alabama Athletics Press Release.

So, in this case, getting an out was probably the best thing to do...but the announcers and fans were not so sure.

[Sam]

After a little hunting, the game was Alabama vs. ULouisiana-Lafayette. In the 5th inning, the score was 1-0 for Alabama.

"Alabama increased their lead to 3-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kellie Eubanks led off the inning by reaching base on an error. A single off of Bourgeois’ leg gave the Tide a pair of base runners. The next batter hit back to Bourgeois and she elected to retire the lead runner. However, the throw was off the mark and rolled into the camera deck over by third base. One run scored and left runners on second and third with no outs. Bourgeois fanned the next batter and Smith made a tremendous diving catch in foul territory to record the second out. The runner on third scored on the sacrifice to give the designated home team a 3-0 edge." From an Alabama Athletics Press Release.

So, in this case, getting an out was probably the best thing to do...but the announcers and fans were not so sure.

5th Inning...down 2 runs....runners on 2nd and 3rd....one out....I've got six offensive outs to score 2 runs off of a pitcher who is shutting us out....I not only let the ball drop, I walk the batter to load the bases to create force outs and double play possibilities....there are quite a few college coaches that couln't game manage their ways out of a wet paper bag....

[fasterpitch92701]

If it's mid-late in a low scoring game, let it drop. IMHO

[MTR]

How's this for your avatar?

or this?

Yep, lack of an intelligent response and out come the family photos.

Look, it doesn't make any difference what you do, it will be the right thing if it works to your advantage and the wrong thing if it doesn't.

I have seen this work and I've seen it go awry. On many fields, the outfielder has no idea where the lines are, if there are lines at all. You cannot always rely on directions from fellow players or coaches because everyone is screaming. Then you have a ball so close it is hard to predict and if the ball drops fair because someone screamed "let it go"......that is just something that may very well come back to bite you in the tail.

[Sam]

Mike,

I'm betting that the OF could discern the lines at the WCWS.....their budgets allow for chalking the lines all the way to the fence...probably.

Just because your strategy goes awry, doesn't necessarily mean it was the wrong thing to do...especially if you would do the same thing over and over....and your chances for success were better than the other options.

You may know the rules better than anyone here (I think you do).....game strategy...not so much.

[Ace]

OK. I will start the other side of the argument and say that I don't want her to catch the ball. That is a strike. I have faith in my pitcher at the world series and I'll have her throw something off speed.

Same here, the girls call it loud as 'outfield foul drops' with a runner at 3rd - closer in - let em try and tag.

MTR, this is fastpitch.

NS Sherlock. And I really don't care who has confidence in what or whom, FP, SP or MP, baseball or softball.

Obviously there are situations where it could be beneficial to let it drop. However, if it isn't the last inning, I take the out every time

BTW, I have played, coached and umpired all the games noted.

You Coached SP and MP? I dont think I have EVER seen a coach at a SP or MP game. Wow. Great job getting all those 30yo men into a huddle and executing your game plan. I never listened to a "coach" after my mid twenties. BTW this past thanksgiving I umpired a game of Candy Land, a game of Battle Ship, and the first half of a flag football game.

[MTR]

You Coached SP and MP? I dont think I have EVER seen a coach at a SP or MP game. Wow. Great job getting all those 30yo men into a huddle and executing your game plan. I never listened to a "coach" after my mid twenties.

Really? Guess you just played whatever position and batted where you wanted, hit and bunted if and when you felt like it, did nothing to help protect a stealing teammate and couldn't understand why your teammate wasn't moving on the pitch when you decided the hit and run was a good idea.

BTW this past thanksgiving I umpired a game of Candy Land, a game of Battle Ship, and the first half of a flag football game.

What happen to the second half, did the players figure that since there was no need for a coach, an official was a waste of time, also?