baseball rules?

Question

i know pretty much everything about baseball. the only thing i don't get is: why do they say that its not good to make the first or last out at third base?

Answer 1

It's just one of those old, accepted baseball sayings. The point is that you shouldn't make the first or last out by being greedy, trying to stretch a double to a triple or reach third on a single.

In reality, you shouldn't make the first or third out by being greedy at any base. But, this is just the term that has stuck and it annoys me to no end when announcers repeat it.

Answer 2

The resoning for this is because a typical player with average speed can score from second base on an outfield single.

Getting out at 3rd for the first out means if you stay at 2nd, there will be at least 3 chances to single you in or enough outs to move you up and sacrifice before the inning is over. Honestly I would take my chances with at least 3 batters coming up. Usually at least one will put the ball into play and probably more times than not it will at least move you up one base.
If you get thrown out at 3rd and thats the last out, you ended the inning when a single could have scored you from second. Although the odds are much less, there are no odds at all if the inning is over. I'd take any odds over none at all.

The one thing this does not imply is a force out because that is usually the batters fault for not hitting it to the right side, and if there is a force at 3rd, there is still going to be a runner at 2nd base that can be driven in so long as that out at third did not end the inning.
Hope this helps and wasn't very confusing.

Answer 3

Well, if you make the first out at third base, you could have stopped at 2nd with no outs. A bunt could move you over and a sac fly could bring you in. Most base hits should bring you in from 2nd if you're quick enough to think about a triple in the first place. Making the last out at third is somewhat similar. A base hit should bring you in from 2nd. And, if you make the last out at third, you just took away a runner in scoring position with 2 outs. It's really just a matter of playing the odds.

Answer 4

You don't want to make the first or last out of an inning at third base, because you would be running yourself out of an inning. If you get the first out at third base, then you lost the chance to have a man in scoring position on second, with no outs, and probably get him home, and set yourself up for a rally. If you get the third out of an inning at third, then the same is true, you ended a good opportunity to score the man on second. It is ok to get the second out at third, because you are trying to take a chance, and if you aren't safe, then you didn't really lose anything, since you still have another batter in the inning. Obviously, you don't want to be out at all, but getting the second out at second is a chance that alot more people are willing to take, and risk being tagged out, for the opportunity to only have to get a sac fly to score the run.

Answer 5

Making the second out at third isn't all that, either.

Basic thinking:
first out -- oh great, blow having a man at second (scoring position) and zero outs (always good) by trying for an extra, not especially valuable, base. Dumb.

third out -- pretty much the same, a man on second is almost as likely to score as a man on third, and with two outs the sac fly is meaningless. The third out also expires any other baserunners, so it's a bad risk.

Answer 6

You don't want to make the first out at second because you can be bunted to third and score on a flyout, groundout, passed ball without your team ever having to get another hit in that inning.
Also, runners can often score from 2nd on a single and singles are the easiest hits to get, so you have two chances to score with the benefit of just another single.
Therefore, the advantage of being at third vs. being at second are minimal, and it isn't worth the risk of getting thrown at at third for a small gain.

For basically the same reason, you don't want to make the third out at third either. Again, you can score on a single, and the odds are even greater that you will score from second on a single with 2 out since you will be running on any contact.
Also, since there are two out the benefit of being on third vs, second is really marginalized since both places essentially require another hit to score the run (any out ends the inning).
The only thing you gain from being at third is the ability to score on an infield single, passed ball/wild pitch, or possibly a hard hit single right at an outfielder that would keep you from scoring from second.
Benefits don't outweigh the risks.

Answer 7

With nobody out, there is a potential big inning underway, so taking the extra base in an effort to reach third is too risky. There are many chances to score from second with no outs or to be moved to third. With two outs, there are almost as many ways to score from second as from third, so it makes no sense to end the inning trying to get to third. Bill James and others have challenged the theory since there are a few more ways to score from 3B, but statistically, the theory still holds merit.

Answer 8

It's kind of like double faulting in tennis when you are down 0-40; you don't give yourself a chance to win. Get the ball in play and see what happens. With respect to your question you likely would have had at least three chances to score from second if there are no outs; and at least one chance if there are two outs. However, making the last out at third gives you zero chance of doing anything that inning while making the first out removes a base runner from second and reduces your number of outs from three to two.

Answer 9

You all don't get it. It's purely statistical.

You don't make the 3rd out at 3rd base because with 2 outs it takes a hit to score you from 2nd or 3rd. Only at low levels would you consider the possibility of an error or passed ball as something to count on

You don't make the 1st out at 3rd because a bunt gets you there w/2 outs where a sac., a hit, a bunt or a variety of other batted balls scores a run

Making the 2nd out at 3rd, while not desireable, is at least taking a chance of getting in position, with 1 out, to score on a sac, squeeze etc. with on

Answer 10

You dont want to make the first out b/c, if you just stay at 2nd with no outs, you can be bunted over to 3rd, and score on a sac fly after that.

You dont want to make the last out at 3rd, b/c if you stay at 2nd, there is a chance for a 2 out hit to score you.