Neighborhood play
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, a neighborhood play is a force play
where a fielder receiving the ball in attempting to force out a runner at second base, catches and quickly throws the ball to first base in a double play
attempt without actually touching second base, or by touching second base well before catching the ball. By every rules code
, such a play is not an out
, because to record a force out
, the fielder with the ball must actually touch a force base before the forced runner arrives (pro Rule 7.08(e)). In professional baseball
, the umpire
s frequently call the play as an out, disregarding the strict application of the rule in favor of traditional practice.
The neighborhood play is called differently at various levels and in various league
s in amateur baseball (such as men's amateur, college, high school, or youth leagues). Its appropriateness and necessity in amateur and even professional baseball is debated. The safety necessity of the rule is lessened by most amateur leagues' use of the force play slide rule, which requires forced-out runners to either slide directly to the base or completely avoid the fielder, but some amateur umpires still treat the neighborhood play as an out.
The traditional application of the neighborhood play for an out developed because it is common for a sliding runner to collide with the fielder at second base, sometimes causing injury. On a double play attempt, the fielder must throw the ball to first base, which would generally require a step directly into the path of the incoming runner. On a close force out at second, a fielder often cannot avoid a collision while completing a throw to first base unless he stays some distance away from second base. For the sake of safety, umpires allowed fielders to score the first out of an attempted double play without actually touching second base as long as it "looked like" an out, i.e. the fielder made a clean catch, turn, and throw near second base before the runner arrived. This allowed the tradition of the take-out slide to continue while still providing a means of safety for middle infielders.
There is some evidence that the culture among umpires is changing, and that the neighborhood play will not be called an out when the fielder obviously fails to touch the base in question. For example, in Game 2 of the 2009 American League Championship Series
, Anaheim Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, straddling second base, caught a throw for an out at second base and immediately threw to first to put out the batter-runner in an apparent double play. Second base umpire Jerry Layne called the runner safe at second base; replays showed that Aybar never came close to touching the base.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, a neighborhood play is a force play
Force play
In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base—and thus try to advance to the next base—because the batter became a runner. A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner...
where a fielder receiving the ball in attempting to force out a runner at second base, catches and quickly throws the ball to first base in a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
attempt without actually touching second base, or by touching second base well before catching the ball. By every rules code
Baseball rules
The rules of baseball differ slightly from league to league, but in general share the same basic gameplay.-Codes:There are several major rules codes, which differ only slightly....
, such a play is not an out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
, because to record a force out
Force out
Force out may mean* Force play in baseball, causing an out* 401#Force-out, a provision allowing employers to close low-balance 401 retirement accounts of former employees...
, the fielder with the ball must actually touch a force base before the forced runner arrives (pro Rule 7.08(e)). In professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
, the umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
s frequently call the play as an out, disregarding the strict application of the rule in favor of traditional practice.
The neighborhood play is called differently at various levels and in various league
Sports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
s in amateur baseball (such as men's amateur, college, high school, or youth leagues). Its appropriateness and necessity in amateur and even professional baseball is debated. The safety necessity of the rule is lessened by most amateur leagues' use of the force play slide rule, which requires forced-out runners to either slide directly to the base or completely avoid the fielder, but some amateur umpires still treat the neighborhood play as an out.
The traditional application of the neighborhood play for an out developed because it is common for a sliding runner to collide with the fielder at second base, sometimes causing injury. On a double play attempt, the fielder must throw the ball to first base, which would generally require a step directly into the path of the incoming runner. On a close force out at second, a fielder often cannot avoid a collision while completing a throw to first base unless he stays some distance away from second base. For the sake of safety, umpires allowed fielders to score the first out of an attempted double play without actually touching second base as long as it "looked like" an out, i.e. the fielder made a clean catch, turn, and throw near second base before the runner arrived. This allowed the tradition of the take-out slide to continue while still providing a means of safety for middle infielders.
There is some evidence that the culture among umpires is changing, and that the neighborhood play will not be called an out when the fielder obviously fails to touch the base in question. For example, in Game 2 of the 2009 American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
, Anaheim Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, straddling second base, caught a throw for an out at second base and immediately threw to first to put out the batter-runner in an apparent double play. Second base umpire Jerry Layne called the runner safe at second base; replays showed that Aybar never came close to touching the base.