Confused by boxscore (or do I just need more coffee)

[PJ Axelsson]

Help me with this one. Bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Richardson lays down a squeeze and the line says "sqz Sac & Fielders Choice (P)", but there's no out and no error on the pitcher. If there's a sacrifice, shouldn't there be an out? If there is a fielder's choice, shouldn't there be an out? If the squeeze is so good that the pitcher eats it, shouldn't Richardson get a hit?

1 123 B.Richardson sqz Sac & Fielders Choice (P) 3-H 2-3 1-2 b-1 F9

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/game_replay.html?group_id=164989&g_id=194

Just curious, as usual, I'm sure I'm missing something basic.

[Valen]

Did not have patience to watch the play by play replay.
But you can have a fielders choice in real baseball without a hit or an error.
The fielder attempts to throw out one of the runners but the runner is called safe. If there is no physical misplay there is no error. But if in the judgement of the official scorer the fielder could have thrown out the batter by throwing to first there is no hit.

Now as to the strat rule that allowed this someone else will need to explain.

[andycummings65]

Like Valen says, maybe the pitcher chose to throw to third but didnt get an out there. So Richardson is safe on a fielder's choice, since he could have been thrown out at first

[AeroDave10]

This likely has a very simple explanation.

If the bases are loaded and there is a squeeze play, the runner from third is sprinting home as soon as possible. The batter bunts the ball, and since this would be the game-tying run, the pitcher will probably make every attempt to get the force at home plate. In this case, he probably tried to throw home but the runner beat the throw, and was safe.

If this is what happened, Richardson is credited with a sacrifice (he successfully advanced a runner), but there is no hit rewarded because in the opinion of the "official scorer", the pitcher could have thrown out Richardson at first base if that's where he decided to make his play. Instead the fielder (the pitcher) chose to throw home. He was unable to complete the play successfully, but it was still the "fielder's choice" to go for the force out instead of the play at first.

As Valen said, this happens all the time in real baseball. For example, with a runner on first, a ground ball is hit to the shortstop. The second baseman is slow in getting to the base so the runner beats the throw to second. The exact same scoring decision is made, fielder's choice and no hit to the batter or error to any fielder.

[andycummings65]

that makes even more sense

[danielz]

In the computer version of the game, it will give the defensive manager an option.

Example

Throw out batter at first
Try to get runner out at home (Safe Chance 1-12)

You select which one you want.

In your game Hal selected to try for the out at home and the split draw was in the safe range. The hitter does not get a hit because Hal could have selected the out at 1st. But the batter is credited with a sacrifice because it was a successful bunt.

[danielz]

These options happen all the time.

Example

There is a runner on 1st
Batter singles to center

offensive manager is asked

Runner holds at 2nd
Runner on 1st tries to advance to 3rd (Safe 1-15)

If the offensive manager tries to go for advance to 3rd, then the defensive manager is asked

Try to throw out runner at 3rd (safe chance 1-15)
Throw to 2nd and hold batter at 1st

If you select try to throw out runner at 3rd, batter automatically gets 2nd

[PJ Axelsson]

Thanks, the extra coffee helps too!

:D