A Caught pop-up thrown to 1st?

Question

I was watching the Yankees vs Red Sox game tonight. The situation of who was batting and who hit it doesn't matter.

There was a pop-fly by a batter, a low blooper that was easily caught by the 3rd baseman and thrown to 1st for the out.

I'm not sure why the ball was still thrown to 1st when the ball was caught. There was a runner at 3rd, though I'm not sure if there were runners at 1st or 2nd, nor the # of outs. I don't think the infield fly rule applies here because my understanding is that the umps would simply call a batter out on an easy pop-fly whether or not the ball is caught. Why is the ball still thrown to 1st in some situations on pop-ups (and the batter still runs to 1st to try to get the hit)?

After the 5th inning & before the 8th. I do believe the Yankees were batting and it definately was not a chopper (rewound it several times to make sure). The Yankees had just hit a triple w/ 0 outs and the triple scored 2 runs I believe to tie the game. The Yankees had 3 opportunities to score the runner at 3rd but the pop-fly in question is one of the outs.

I do believe though that the answer of it being done out of instinct & in case the ball is bobbled is probably correct.

Answer 1

I know exactly what play you are talking about. Cano had just hit a triple and was on third. Melky Cabrera hit a chopper to third, not a pop up, Lowell looked back Cano as he dove back to third and then threw to first for the out. Watch the video again and you'll clearly see that it was a chopper not a pop-up.

Answer 2

If there is a runner on first and less than 2 outs, it's for a double play.

On any ball in the air, the runners must tag up and advance, If the runner has moved too far from the base, he can be doubled off.

The infield fly rule only applies with runners on first and second, or first, second and third, with less than 2 out.

The batter-runner should always hustle down the line, as there is no guarantee that the ball will be caught.

Answer 3

He might have just been going around the horn, in which case the throw to first was incidental.

Another possibility is that the ball was chopped, that is in hit the ground then bounced high in the air. That can sometimes look like a pop fly.

If you can be more specific about the inning or batter, somebody who saw the game might be able to help you better.

Answer 4

The out was made upon the catch. I suspect there was a runner at first, and the throw was made to make sure he returned to the base. Batters will always run out pop-ups, just on the off-chance that the ball is dropped.

Answer 5

It wasn't a pop up, it was a chopper hit by Melky Cabrera. I saw the play myself, but double-checked to be sure by going to the Yahoo play by play record in the box score.

Answer 6

The batter still runs in case the fielder bobbles the catch.

The fielder throws to first mostly out of instinct.

Or at least that's what the voices in my head keep telling me.....