Play #1

QUESTION: It’s possible that Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen will appear in the box scores for opposing teams in the same game on Monday August 26, 2024 when Boston and Toronto meet at Fenway Park. How can a player play for both teams in the same game? And is this the first time it has occurred in baseball history?

Answer: On June 26, 2024, the Blue Jays and Red Sox played at Fenway Park. As a member of the Blue Jays, Jansen was batting seventh in the lineup in the second inning with an 0-1 count and one out with Davis Schneider on first base. At that point there was a rain delay which turned into a suspended game. The game was rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 26th, as part of a split double header with the first game being the continuation of the suspended game, starting at 2:05.

On July 27, 2024, Jansen was traded to the Red Sox. After the Jansen acquisition, Reese McGuire, who was the Boston catcher in the June 26 game, was designated for assignment. So, this created the perfect storm for rule 7.02 (h) to be utilized that allows Jansen to play for the Red Sox this coming Monday afternoon.  The rule reads, “A player who was not with the Club when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place of a player no longer with the club who would not have been eligible …”

So, that opens the door for Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora to use Jansen in Monday’s suspended game and create a most unusual piece of baseball history by making Jansen the only major league player to play for opposing teams in the same game. 

Because there were less than two strikes on Jansen when the June 26 game was suspended, whoever the Blue Jays use as the pinch-hitter for Jansen will  inherit the 0-1 count and get statistical credit for the result of the at-bat no matter what.

In a statistical anomaly, if there were two strikes on Jansen on June 26, and the pinch-hitter struck out on Aug. 26, the strikeout would be charged to Jansen. Therefore, if that was true and Jansen plays on Monday, Jansen would have caught a strikeout of himself. This goes beyond one’s imagination. According to Elias, if the pinch-hitter for Jansen puts the ball in play, the pinch-hitter gets credit for whatever the action is regardless of the count.

Because of the quirks and vagaries of the baseball rulebook, a similar situation occurred in a Triple-A International League game 38 years ago when Dale Holman went 1-1 playing for the Syracuse Chiefs in a June suspended game against the Richmond Braves, and after being traded found himself wearing a Braves uniform on Aug. 16, 1986, when the suspended game resumed. Holman went 2-2 against Syracuse, who went on to win the suspended game, 9-0. And because Holman had knocked in Syracuse’s first run in the June suspended game, he was credited with the game-winning hit, even though he finished the game playing for the losing squad.

Who said that you can’t be in two places at the same time?

Only the nuances of the baseball rulebook could defy the laws of physics.

Play #2

The Red Sox and Astros played at Minute Maid on August 19, 2024.  In the top of the sixth, Masataka Yoshida homered pinch-hitting for Connor Wong with Romy Gonzalez on first base and two outs. Gonzalez was stealing on the pitch. When Gonzalez slid into second base, he came up short and apparently never touched the base before continuing to third base. He ultimately scored. The Astros never appealed but won the game, 5-4.

Question: If the Astros appealed and Gonzalez was called out, would Yoshida score?

Answer: “No” because the inning would end in a force because Gonzalez was forced to second base when Yoshida hit safely. If there were less than two outs, Gonzalez would be out, but Yoshida would score (provided he touched all the bases).

It’s difficult to determine if Gonzalez ever touched the base. But a member of the Red Sox camp was emphatic that he did not touch the base.

Play #3

In the August 19, 2024 game between the Orioles and Mets at Citi Field, Francisco Alvarez hit a walk off home run. Just before he got to first base, it appeared that Francisco Lindor came out of the dugout and made contact with Alvarez to celebrate his four-bagger.

Question: Was this legal? Should Alvarez have been called out because of Lindor’s actions?

Answer: It is illegal for a teammate who is not an active runner to assist an active runner in the middle of a play. If the assistance hinders or impedes the defensive team from making a play, the runner being played on is out. However, in this situation, Lindor’s actions did not hinder or impede the defensive team from making a play. Therefore, there was no violation. With that said, I think it’s a good idea for players who are not active runners to not have any physical contact with an active runner.

Play #4

Q. Does the clock stop and reset if the pitcher drops the ball while on the rubber with no runners on base?

Answer: No. The clock does not stop and if time on the clock runs out, it would be a pitch violation, and a “ball” would be called.  If the clock stopped, a pitcher could circumvent the rule by intentionally dropping the ball to stop the clock if it is winding down. If there are mound visits left or the catcher runs out to call “Time,” that would stop the clock and prevent the automatic “ball” call. 

Play #5

The Rays and A’s played at the Oakland Coliseum on August 21, 2024. José Caballero led off the top of the seventh with the score tied, 2-2. Caballero, facing Mitch Spence, had a 1-1 count when he was hit by the pitch. But plate umpire Brock Ballou would not allow Caballero to take first base because he judged that the Rays’ batter made no effort to avoid getting hit by the pitch. Rays manager Kevin Cash argued the call and was ejected.

Caballero resumed his bat with a 2-1 count and subsequently walked setting the stage for Jose Siri’s two-run homer which gave the Rays a 4-2 lead which proved to be the final score.

QUESTION: Do you think Ballou made the right call by not allowing Caballero to take first base?

Answer: In my opinion Ballou made the right call. From this corner, Caballero initiated the contact by extending his elbow into the pitch that registered at only 83 mph. Caballero should have had enough time to avoid the pitch.  Per rule 5.05 (b) (2), Caballero should not be awarded first base because he made no attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch.  It should be noted that if a pitched ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike whether or not the batter tried to avoid the pitch. Under any condition when the batter is touched by a pitched ball, the ball is dead.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst:  Angels, D’backs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and NBC Sports Chicago.