Is this an error or a clean play?

Question

Ill set the scene. In my videogame, i was playing Cleveland Indians vs. Texas Rangers. There is one out in the inning and runners on 1st and 3rd. Someone on Texas hit a pop up to the shortstop. Both runners were obviously holding on the pop up. The shortstop misplayed the ball and dropped it, but then threw to 2nd easily, and the runner on 3rd did not advance. The runner who was on 1st got out on the fielders choice. The shortstop was charged with an error. Is that an error or a clean fielders choice.

Answer 1

You cannot give an error because the force out was gotten and the end result was the same. If he catches the ball you got first and third with two outs and after dropping it you still had same scenerio with just a different runner at first so there is no error on the play.

Answer 2

Errors usually are awarded to explain how a particular runner reached a base. The exception might be a foul pop behind home plate, which is dropped by the catcher. No one advances, but it is still an error.

In your case, the runner is out at second on a fielder's choice, with the batter going to first.

A similar play might happen when there's a runner on first and no one out. A short fly ball is hit to right. The right fielder is ready to catch it, but drops it. But, the runner had to stay near first and is easily thrown out at second. Thus, no error, because he didn't advance.

Answer 3

Keyword here:
VIDEOGAME

In real life you could consider it a fielder's choice, but a videogame is programmed to think of it as a normal play, w/o taking in the situation. It just doesn't understand the normal concept on a popup like that.

It takes it as a normal play that has to be caught due to its programming; thus, since it was dropped, it's an error on the game.

If the shortstop hadn't touched it, it would be a fielder's choice, also due to the programming of the game(I do this all the time to try for DPs with short pop ups). But since the SS did touch it, it became an error.

But in a video game, the AI cannot comprehend an instance like this as we would in real life.
Hope that helps.

Answer 4

It's probably a fielder's choice. Doesn't really matter though, since the result of the play would have been the same had he caught the ball - runners at the corners, 2 out.

Answer 5

It's an error . The ball should have been caught. A dropped routine fly ball can't be changed into a fielders choice to negate an error.
Edit :
Hypothetical situation:
The runner that gets thrown out as a result of the FC is Glavine
The runner now on first is Reyes
On a base hit into the gap Reyes scores on ball that would have kept Glavine on third
Reye's run gets added to Zambrano's ERA.
If Reye's run was the result of an E-6 Zambrano's ERA wouldn't be affected

Answer 6

well in real life that play would have been a smart fielders choice. Thats a good play but your video game probably just thinks that a dropped pop fly is an error every time.

Answer 7

if the short stop had made contact wiht the ball on the pop up den its an error other wise fielders choice

Answer 8

i don't believe it should be scored an error unless a runner reaches base or a runner is able to advance. neither of which occured on this play. should have been a clean play.

Answer 9

its a fielders choice cause there was an out that was made.

Answer 10

I'd say yes, it should be an error. SS dropped the ball, therefore didn't record the out for the batter... Seems like the right call, even though I see what you're saying.