I once saw a particularly heady shortstop in this situation take a look at both runners while the ball was in the air, and choose which one he wanted to be on base, and let the ball drop.
The batter/runner was a lot slower than the guy on first. It was a one run game, late innings. Could have made the difference in the game because no way the batter/runner had the speed to steal, and the next batter hit a single.
A bunch of people in the stands had the reflexive reaction that he screwed up but got lucky because he could still get the guy at second. I saw him look at both runners as the ball was in the air, and so I figured out what he was doing.
I thought it showed incredible presence of mind for a HS SS.
Actually it depends on whether or not he dropped it intentionally and whether or not he touched it.
OBR 6.05 "A batter is out when_... (l) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases; APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies."
But in your situation, it sounds like he dropped it unintentionally -- in which case Rob's response is right on.
10.14(d) "No error shall be charged against any fielder when, after fumbling a ground ball or dropping a fly ball, a line drive or a thrown ball, he recovers the ball in time to force out a runner at any base."
Posts: 304 | Location: North Texas | Registered: February 25, 2006
