Oakland A’s leave the field after two outs. Two Out Inning! They even fooled the umpires.
The A’s hosted the Giants, March 26, 2023 in spring training. In the sixth inning, the A’s pitchers recorded two outs, one by strikeout and one by fielder’s choice. Then they left the field and the Giants came out of their dugout to take the field and play defense. But there were only two outs recorded. Giants manager, Gabe Kapler, went to home plate umpire Bill Miller to sort it out and eventually the A’s came back on the field, and finished the sixth inning. What should umpires do if they get the outs wrong and there are runners on base? This video explains it all.
So, if we are under the scenario where the umpires are knowingly “following the ball,” they award bases based on whether the ball ends in the dugout or in the stands. I have two topics of question.
First, what if, while the umpire crew was aware of the circumstances, i.e., only two outs, but the runners were duped into thinking there were three outs, are the runners vulnerable to being called out if they abandon their bases? Normally, if a runner intentionally abandons his base and leaves the field of play, e.g., enters the dugout, he is out. But if the fielder carries or throws the ball out of play, it is a dead ball. So, is which comes first? If the runner enters the dugout before the ball is taken or thrown out of play, is he out? If the ball is taken or thrown out of play before the runner enters the dugout, is he eligible to return to his base and enjoy an award of base(s)? If the runner went into the dugout before the ball was taken or thrown out of play, does he have an argument that the fielder engaged in unsportsmanship or delay and, if so, what is the consequence?
Second, let’s assume the second scenario, i.e., the umpire crew is also initially duped into thinking there are three outs. Once the umpires are made aware of their mistake, they can invoke Rule 8.02(c) to put Humpty Dumpty back together. In doing so, should they—as was apparently done with the A’s and Giants—simply return the runners to the bases they occupied at the end of the previous play or should the umpires endeavor to determine where the ball went as if it had been knowingly “followed” and award bases? If, for example, the ALS fielder had walked off the field and taken the ball into the dugout, should the umpires—after realizing their mistake—not only return the runners to the bases they had been occupying, but also award the runners one base? After all, why should the A’s get the benefit of their own wrong? They caused the ball to leave the field of play; they should suffer the consequences whether it was an intentional “trick play” or just a collective failure to pay attention. The Giants were paying attention. Shouldn’t they be awarded bases to which they are entitled?
Rule 9.01(b)(2) states “If the teams change sides before three men are putout, the Official Scorer shall immediately inform the umpire-in-chief of the mistake.” I’ve never had this in a game, but it would be easy for me as the OS for the Fredericksburg Nationals as it’s a short distance from press box to home plate. Not sure how it could work at a major league stadium.