Fielders Choice in Baseball: A Comprehensive GuideBaseball is a game of nuances and intricacies that can only be understood by people who have spent countless hours studying and playing it. One of those nuances is the fielder’s choice – a play that is easy to misunderstand for those who are not familiar with the game.
In this article, we will dive into what a fielder’s choice is, how it is scored, and how it impacts a hitter’s batting average.
FC Baseball Meaning
Fielder’s Choice is a term used in baseball to describe a defensive play where a fielder has a choice of what to do with the ball after it has been hit by a batter. When a fielder catches the ball, they can either throw the ball to first base in an attempt to get the runner out or try to get another runner out in another base.
If the fielder chooses to do the latter, it is still considered a fielder’s choice as long as there was a possibility of getting the batter out. If the runner on the base successfully makes it to the next base without getting out, the batter is not credited with an official at-bat.
Scoring of Fielders Choice in Baseball
Fielder’s Choice is one of the rare plays in baseball that can be scored in different ways depending on the outcome of the play. There are three different types of fielder’s choice scoring:
1.
Standard Fielder’s Choice: This type of fielder’s choice is scored when the fielder has the option to throw the ball to first base or try to make a play on another runner on another base. If the runner on first base is out, the batter is not credited with an official at-bat.
If the runner on the base successfully makes it to the next base, then the batter is not credited with a hit, but the at-bat is not considered an out against the batter. 2.
Fielder’s Choice Error: This type of scoring is applied when the fielder makes an error during the play, but the batter still reaches first base safely. 3.
Double Fielder’s Choice: This scoring is applied when the fielder makes the play to first base, but another runner is thrown out trying to advance to another base. In this case, both the batter and the runner who was thrown out are not credited with an official at-bat.
Impact on Hitters Batting Average
Fielder’s Choice plays can have a significant impact on a hitter’s batting average. If a batter hits a ground ball, and the fielder chooses to throw the ball to first base to try to get the runner out, the batter is not credited with a hit.
This can hurt the hitter’s batting average. However, it is essential to note that the fielder’s choice does not count against the batter’s on-base percentage.
This means that if the batter safely reaches base on a fielder’s choice, they are still on base, and their on-base percentage increases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fielder’s choice is a defensive play in baseball that can be challenging to understand for those who are not familiar with the game. In this article, we have gone over what a fielder’s choice is, how it is scored, and how it impacts a hitter’s batting average.
While it may seem like a minor detail, fielder’s choice is an essential part of baseball, and understanding it will help you appreciate the game even more. Fielders Choice in Baseball: A Comprehensive Guide (Expansion)Fielder’s choice is a term used in baseball to describe a defensive play where a fielder has a choice of what to do with the ball after it has been hit by a batter.
In this expansion, we will cover the explicit rule on a fielder’s choice in MLB, provide examples of fielder’s choice in baseball, and discuss the role of the official scorer in fielder’s choice.
The Rule
In MLB, a fielder’s choice is defined as a fielder who chooses to put out a runner other than the batter-runner. According to the MLB rulebook, “a fielder’s choice is not a hit but shall be scored as a putout for the fielder who takes the throw and for the fielder covering the base that the runner advanced to.” The fielder’s choice is credited to the fielder who threw the ball to the base, even if the putout is recorded at another base.
The official scorer must determine whether or not the fielder’s choice was the result of a legitimate play or a failed attempt to make a play. In cases where the fielder had no other play, the official scorer must credit the batter with a fielder’s choice.
Examples of Fielders Choice in Baseball
Fielder’s choice can occur in various situations during a baseball game. Here are some examples of fielder’s choice in baseball:
1.
Runner at Second Base: A batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop, who throws the ball to first base, attempting to get the batter-runner out. The first baseman catches the ball but realizes that the runner on second base is attempting to advance to third base.
The first baseman decides to throw the ball to third, where the runner is eventually tagged out. In this situation, the batter is not credited with a hit, but the play is scored as a fielder’s choice.
2. Runner at First Base: With a runner on first base, the batter hits a ground ball to the second baseman.
The second baseman fields the ball and flips it to the shortstop covering second base. The runner is out at second base, and the shortstop throws the ball to first base, but the batter-runner beats the throw.
The batter is not credited with a hit but is credited with a fielder’s choice. 3.
Sacrifice Scenarios: A common scenario is when a runner is on first base with less than two outs, and the batter bunts the ball, but instead of attempting to get the batter out, the fielder throws to second base to get the force out, and the batter reaches first base safely. Scenarios like this are scored as a fielder’s choice.
Role of Official Scorer in Fielders Choice
The role of the official scorer is crucial in fielder’s choice plays. The official scorer’s job is to determine whether or not the fielder’s choice was the result of a legitimate play or a failed attempt to make a play.
In cases where the fielder had no other play, the official scorer must credit the batter with a fielder’s choice. The official scorer considers several factors in making the call, such as the proximity of the runners, the speed of the batter-runner, the fielding player’s position, and the severity of the hit.
The official scorer’s decision can have significant impacts on the game’s outcome, influencing player statistics, and ultimately affecting the team’s standings.
Conclusion
Fielder’s choice is an essential part of baseball that can have a significant impact on the game’s outcome. It is a defensive play where the fielder has a choice of what to do with the ball after it has been hit by a batter.
In this expansion, we have covered the rule on a fielder’s choice in MLB, provided examples of fielder’s choice in baseball, and discussed the role of the official scorer in fielder’s choice. Understanding the nuances of fielder’s choice is crucial to appreciating the game of baseball fully.
Fielders Choice in Baseball: A Comprehensive Guide (Expansion)In the game of baseball, scoring plays an essential role in determining the outcome of the game. Each play, whether defensive or offensive, can affect the game’s score and ultimately determine the winner.
In this expansion, we will discuss the scoring of fielder’s choice in baseball and why it is not counted as a hit.
Scoring of Fielders Choice
Scoring fielder’s choice can be complicated as the play can have different outcomes depending on the situation. Generally, a fielder’s choice is scored as an assist to the fielder who makes the play, even if that fielder does not record the out.
The other assist goes to the fielder covering the base the runner advanced to. If the batter-runner is out at the base the fielder throws to, the scorer will add a putout to the play.
Fielder’s choice can be a little tricky since there are different variations of the play. For instance, if there is a runner at second base and the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop, who throws to the first baseman to get the batter out, and then the first baseman throws to third base to tag the runner out, this play is scored as a fielder’s choice with one putout and two assists for the shortstop and the first and third baseman.
Occasionally, the official scorer may choose to award an error instead of scoring the play as a fielder’s choice. This can happen in situations where the fielder makes an error, yet the batter-runner reaches base safely and advances on the play.
Fielders Choice Not Counted as Hit
One of the most significant aspects of fielder’s choice is that it is not counted as a hit in baseball. This means that a batter who hits a ground ball that becomes a fielder’s choice will not be credited with a hit in their stats.
When the pitch is hit, the ball is not hit safely, so the batter does not earn a hit even though they may be safe at base. The fielder’s choice is considered a defensive play, and since the batter did not get a hit, it cannot count as a hit.
This can be frustrating for batters as they do not get credit for what would have been a base hit, but it does not negatively affect their on-base percentage. This is because even though the play was not a hit, the batter-runner is still on base, and this increases their on-base percentage.
Summary of Fielders Choice in Baseball
In summary, fielder’s choice is a critical play in baseball that has a significant impact on the game’s scoring and outcome. Scoring fielder’s choice can be challenging because of the multiple variations of the play, but generally, it is scored as an assist to the fielder who makes the play.
The play is not counted as a hit, which can be frustrating for the batter, but it does not affect their on-base percentage. Understanding the scoring of fielder’s choice is essential to comprehending the game of baseball fully.
In conclusion, fielder’s choice is a crucial aspect of baseball that can affect the game’s outcome and impact a player’s statistics. It is a defensive play where a fielder has a choice of what to do with the ball after it has been hit by a batter.
Fielder’s choice is scored as an assist to the fielder who makes the play, and it is not counted as a hit for the batter. However, it does not affect the batter’s on-base percentage.
Understanding the nuances of fielder’s choice is essential to fully appreciating the game of baseball.
FAQs:
Q: What is a fielder’s choice in baseball?
A: Fielder’s choice is a defensive play where a fielder has a choice of what to do with the ball after it has been hit by a batter. Q: How is fielder’s choice scored in baseball?
A: Fielder’s choice is typically scored as an assist to the fielder who makes the play. Q: Is a fielder’s choice counted as a hit in baseball?
A: No, a fielder’s choice is not counted as a hit for the batter. Q: Does a fielder’s choice affect a player’s on-base percentage in baseball?
A: No, a fielder’s choice does not affect a player’s on-base percentage in baseball.