CUBS METS STRANGE PLAY

With runners on second and third, the Mets tried a suicide squeeze against the Cubs.

The batter missed the pitch, and the Cubs caught the runner from third in a run down. The Cubs catcher ran the third base runner back to the bag, but the runner from second was already there. The catcher tagged out the runner from second (who was occupying the bag) then the runner from third second (as he was off the base behind his teammate).

Initially, the umpire called both base runners out. But after a long umpire huddle, the call was reversed and the runner from second was allowed to stay at third. No double play.

But in the confusion, was this the right call?

The official baseball rules:

7.00—The Runner.

7.01

A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out.

He is then entitled to it until he is put out, or

forced to vacate it for another runner legally

entitled to that base.

Rule 7.01 Comment: If a runner legally acquires title to a base, and the pitcher assumes his

pitching position, the runner may not return to a previously occupied base. 

7.02

In advancing, a runner shall touch first,

second, third and home base in order. If

forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse order, unless the ball is dead under any

provision of Rule 5.09. In such cases, the runner may go directly to his original base. 

7.03

(a) Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are

touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged and the preceding

runner is entitled to the base, unless Rule 7.03(b) applies. 

(b) If a runner is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner and

two runners are touching a base to which the following runner is forced, the

following runner is entitled to the base and the preceding runner shall be out

when tagged or when a fielder possesses the ball and touches the base to which

such preceding runner is forced.

The applied rules:

1. A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it before he is out. The Mets runner from second ran to the unoccupied third base (since that runner vacated it toward home) so under this provision he acquired title to it unless he "is forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base."

2. Two runners may not occupy the same base when the ball is alive (as was the case in the run down play). If two runners are touching the base (which did not happen in the Mets situation) the runner from second base would be called out as the runner from third base reclaimed the base when he did not advance to home on the squeeze play.

3.  Rule 7.03 involves situation where the "batter" becomes a runner and forces a previous runner to  advance a base but it is occupied by a previous base runner, there is a force play out.  This was not the situation in the Mets-Cubs game.

So how can the Mets second base runner be safe at third when the runner on third retreated to third base?

It would seem Rule 7.03 (b) would control the situation, with the runner from second being called out and the runner from third entitled to his base back. But in the actual sequence of events, the runner from second stayed on the bag and was called out, and the runner from third was not on the bag when he was tagged out when the play was still live. Under the rule, if both runners were on the bag at the same time, the runner from second would be out. However, the umpires must have thought that since the runner from third was tagged "out" while off the base, then both runners were not occupying the "same" base so the runner from second was entitled to third base.

However, the umpire crew chief explained that once the runner on third went past the bag, he "abandoned it" to the runner from second who was standing on it. As a result, the runner from second was entitled to the base and the runner who had been third was tagged out. It is interesting to note that the base running rules do not state a runner can "abandon" a base to another runner.

Joe Maddon did not strongly argue the final umpire decision. And the Cubs got out of the inning without the Mets scoring a run.

BUYING IN

Joe Maddon has the young team buying in on his vision of the game.

Two major differences we have seen so far this season.

First, hitters are much more patient at the plate. Maddon says that the players have "bought in" on the concept that they should "accept" walks as being a positive at-bat. He allows them to work the count to have a home run cut, but then try to coax a hit or a walk to finish the at-bat.  The Cubs were taking almost double the amount of walks than the league average/opponents.

The idea of having a baserunner is key to putting pressure on the opposing pitcher and his defense. It seems to work because Pirate third baseman Josh Harrison has had a bad two series against the Cubs.

Second, the Cubs are stealing bases. In the last three years, the Cubs' stolen-base totals were 94 (2012), 63 (2013) and 65 (2014), and the 2012 total was that "high" (they ranked 11th in the National League) only because of Tony Campana stealing  30 bases.

The Cubs stole five bases Tuesday night, four of those in one inning.

Anthony Rizzo has already matched his career high with his sixth steal. He hasn't been caught yet. In fact, the Cubs are picking their spots extremely well for stealing bases, with a team total of 25 with just six caught stealing (80.6 percent success rate). The 25 steals leads the National League. 

This leads to the production increases - - - teammates are picking up for each other. It is like an assembly line moving players around the bases. The focus of attention is not home run swings but driving in runs. Kris Bryant has yet to hit a home run, but he quickly amassed 10 RBIs.

So far, this Cubs team has been fun to watch.