Scoring question concerning the shift

LongtimeBravesFan · 05-03-2008, 09:37 AM

On another board, jtur suggested that teams using the shift should place the third baseman in shallow right field instead of just moving everyone over.

If a team did this, the third baseman would be playing where the second baseman normally is, although deeper. So what would the official scorer notate on a fielding play? If the 3B caught a fly ball in his new spot would it be f-5 OR f-4? Would the shortstop have a "6" or "5" for his plays, since he is now in the 3B spot?

Grandstander · 05-03-2008, 10:58 AM

You are whatever the lineup card says you are regardless of where you decide to position yourself.

jtur88 · 05-03-2008, 08:22 PM

Designations like 6-4-3 or F-7 have no official significannce. The player himself is credited with the putout or the assist, Those numbers are writteon in the scorecard only so the scorekeeper can, at the end of the game award assists and putouts to the correct player. When an unusual shift is used, the number is merely a shorthand to point to the player.

It is not obligatory to formally announce a players position, except pitcher. All others may occupy any place in fair ground. One player can be in foul territory, behind the plate, but it does not have to be the player listed as the catcher.

As for career statistics, a player is considered as playing a certain position if he and another player switch, but not if he simply occupies an unorthodox spot when other players remain at their normal spots. Cincinnati once used a Musial shift, with four uniformly spaced outfielders. But the extra outfielder who went out there was not given a career game as an outfielder.
However, if the 1B is the player who usually catches a knucker, and a knuckler is brought in in relief, and the 1B goes back there, and the C goes to 1B, that constitutes a position switch, even if they go back after one batter.

Special rules apply to the pitcher, so if a pitcher is involved, than there must be a formal announcement of who is the pitcher in the game.

05-03-2008, 09:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,409	Scoring question concerning the shift On another board, jtur suggested that teams using the shift should place the third baseman in shallow right field instead of just moving everyone over. If a team did this, the third baseman would be playing where the second baseman normally is, although deeper. So what would the official scorer notate on a fielding play? If the 3B caught a fly ball in his new spot would it be f-5 OR f-4? Would the shortstop have a "6" or "5" for his plays, since he is now in the 3B spot?

05-03-2008, 08:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 5,738	Designations like 6-4-3 or F-7 have no official significannce. The player himself is credited with the putout or the assist, Those numbers are writteon in the scorecard only so the scorekeeper can, at the end of the game award assists and putouts to the correct player. When an unusual shift is used, the number is merely a shorthand to point to the player. It is not obligatory to formally announce a players position, except pitcher. All others may occupy any place in fair ground. One player can be in foul territory, behind the plate, but it does not have to be the player listed as the catcher. As for career statistics, a player is considered as playing a certain position if he and another player switch, but not if he simply occupies an unorthodox spot when other players remain at their normal spots. Cincinnati once used a Musial shift, with four uniformly spaced outfielders. But the extra outfielder who went out there was not given a career game as an outfielder. However, if the 1B is the player who usually catches a knucker, and a knuckler is brought in in relief, and the 1B goes back there, and the C goes to 1B, that constitutes a position switch, even if they go back after one batter. Special rules apply to the pitcher, so if a pitcher is involved, than there must be a formal announcement of who is the pitcher in the game. __________________ "Rules are to guide the wise and command the foolish. The wise know when to break them."

05-03-2008, 10:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Grandstander Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,833	You are whatever the lineup card says you are regardless of where you decide to position yourself.