4 random baseball questions (contracts, pitching, foul tips, and baserunning)

[InsomniacInkRoss]

Would it possible/Why isn't it: Could (in theory) The Brewers rework any contract (let's just say Braun's) for the same money, but middle load it so a large chunk is paid off next year, and thus free up money 2012 and beyond?

 

Has a team ever fielded two pitchers at the same time, a lefty and a righty, and one plays a position like first base. Then they switch off based on the batter?

 

On a third strike swinging, that is foul tipped into the catchers mit, why does the ump still indicate a foul tip before signalling an out? Is that recorded different?

 

Would it ever be advantageous in any circumstance to not lead off while on base?

[dlk9s]

Has a team ever fielded two pitchers at the same time, a lefty and a righty, and one plays a position like first base. Then they switch off based on the batter?

"Rule 3.03 Comment: A pitcher may change to another position only once during the same inning; e.g. the pitcher will not be allowed to assume a position other than a pitcher more than once in the same inning."

 

So, no, unless it was done just once in the inning.

[Funketown]

Would it possible/Why isn't it: Could (in theory) The Brewers rework any contract (let's just say Braun's) for the same money, but middle load it so a large chunk is paid off next year, and thus free up money 2012 and beyond?

 

Would it ever be advantageous in any circumstance to not lead off while on base?

They could, but they probably wouldn't want to. Generally, money tomorrow is worth less than money today, so frontloading a contract rather than backloading it is just like paying the player more.

 

Chris Capuano once picked off Carlos Zambrano when he had no more than a 18" lead.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

LaRussa has used two pitchers at once, one in the outfield, to get a lefty in to face one batter, with the righty returning to the mound after that batter. I think some others have done it as well.

[endaround]

1). Any contract can be reworked as long as the total dollar amount doesn't change taking into account inflation if the money gets truly deferred

 

2) Its been done

 

3) I assume its just to signal that the catcher had to catch it for the out

 

4) When 2nd and 3rd bottom of the 9th or extras with the winning run on 3B, I don't see any advantage there.

[InsomniacInkRoss]

4) When 2nd and 3rd bottom of the 9th or extras with the winning run on 3B, I don't see any advantage there.

Thought of that one, but, would probably be in the batters eye and wearing the home whites.

[dadofandrew]

You'd certainly want to lead off from 1B or 2B in the above situation in case of a force out at the base you were running to.

[ecjimg]

Generally, money tomorrow is worth less than money today, so frontloading a contract rather than backloading it is just like paying the player more.

This statement sounds contradicting. Im on board with the "money tommorw is worth less than monday today part, in that inflation etc causes "todays money" to be worth less in the future.,,, But if you are "frontloading" or paying early, it would be like paying the player LESS.

 

 

[Baldkin]

No, you're paying a guy now, when the payroll is lower because inflation hasn't kicked in as much is worse than paying him in the future. Now, $8M is 10% of the payroll, in 5 years, it might be 7% of the payroll because of huge inflation.

[brewstew2]

Davey Johnson did the P-OF trick with McDowell and Orosco for numerous innings:

 

http://www.baseball-refer...s/CIN/CIN198607220.shtml

[ecjimg]

You are both right! My bad!

[nate82]

So how would you score that on a scorecard with the pitcher changing from OF to P every other inning if that happened.

[ecjimg]

Another question-- The other night Don Mattingly, acting as manager, made a trip to the mound to talk to Broxton. After he left the mound area, 1B Loney asked him a question and he returned to the mound. The Giants argued that Broxton had to be removed from the game due to the "second" visit to the mound, and the umpires (and rules, of course) agreed.

My question is.....what if Mattingly would have never even stepped on the mound to talk to Broxton in the first place. What if they met both times in front of the mound. Thats still one visit you would think. And he still would have been charged with a second visit if he only hit the mound after Loneys question??

[young guns]

The rule is that the trip starts when the manager crosses the foul line and ends when he steps off the mound. I was wondering though, what if Mattingly had just turned around and answered Loney's question from where he was without going back onto the mound.

[pitchleague]

that whole thing is a matter of interpretation. They did a whole thing on MLB radio the morning after, talking about it for what seemed like forever. The ump could have warned Mattingly but instead just enforced the rule. But others on the radio argued that there wasn't time for a warning. Others still argued that there was plenty of time. And even more others argued that the umps choked. And even more others argued that they followed the rulebook too much to the letter.

[Fatter than Joey]

On a third strike swinging, that is foul tipped into the catchers mit, why does the ump still indicate a foul tip before signalling an out? Is that recorded different?

 

One thing that always amazes me, is the number of people that don't realize that a foul-tip is an out on the third strike, or that a foul-tip is a live ball.

 

I think umpires make the signal to let the teams know that he is aware that the batter made contact with the ball.

 

Along the same lines, umpires call pop-ups fair or foul if they are hit directly over the line, when if the ball is caught it makes no difference if it was fair or foul -- I assume though that someone keeps track of foul pop-ups and foul-tips.

[DSFastball55]

Has a team ever fielded two pitchers at the same time, a lefty and a

righty, and one plays a position like first base. Then they switch off

based on the batter?

Maybe I'm dreaming, but I seem to remember Dan Plesac playing first base for the Brewers in a situation like this.

[logan82]

Fatter than Joey wrote:

Along the same lines, umpires call pop-ups fair or foul if they are hit directly over the line, when if the ball is caught it makes no difference if it was fair or foul -- I assume though that someone keeps track of foul pop-ups and foul-tips.

I do when I keep score in my scoring book. I put is down as a 2F or F2 depending on whether it was fair or foul. Probably also makes a difference in some advanced metrics.

[Weirdos19]

4) When 2nd and 3rd bottom of the 9th or extras with the winning run on 3B, I don't see any advantage there.

Thought of that one, but, would probably be in the batters eye and wearing the home whites.

You want to lead off third, in case of a wild pitch. You always want to lead off, alot of pitchers prefer to wind up and not pitch from the stretch.

[Jimbo]

Has a team ever fielded two pitchers at the same time, a lefty and a righty, and one plays a position like first base. Then they switch off based on the batter?

Tom Trebelhorn did this once in the late 80's. A game in Toronto? Put the RP at firstbase just in case, but the second RP recorded the game's final out.

 

 

 

[GoudaBrew]

I have a scoring question and didn't want to start a new thread. This looks like a good spot to stick it,

 

What is the scoring if an out is made on a snap throw to first base from the catcher? Since the out is made at first base it doesn't seem like a "caught stealing". And since the throw wasn't from the pitcher, it doesn't seem like a "pickoff". So, what's the official scoring?

[topper09er]

Its a pickoff by the catcher, they can have pickoffs too. I think Pudge Rodriguez has the most career with 81.

[Baldkin]

Yeah, it would be a CS, 2-3. On your scorecard, that is.

[GoudaBrew]

Its a pickoff by the catcher, they can have pickoffs too. I think Pudge Rodriguez has the most career with 81.

Right you are. Didn't know catchers could have pickoffs too. You rarely see them throw over to first (Yadi seems to love doing it though).

[thebruce44]

FIB4Brew[/b]]

topper09er[/b]]Its a pickoff by the catcher, they can have pickoffs too. I think Pudge Rodriguez has the most career with 81.

Right you are. Didn't know catchers could have pickoffs too. You rarely see them throw over to first (Yadi seems to love doing it though).

 

I got picked off by a catcher once in little league. Pretty embarrassing, but made me aware of it.