I went to a Phillies Angels game the other night and witnessed an absolute base running debacle. After it was all said and done, I was trying to figure out who was to blame.
A runner was on 2nd with 2 outs. It was a tie game and he was the go ahead run in the seventh inning. The batter hit a clean single to center field. The runner was off on the crack of the bat.
Typically(like 9/10 times), the third base coach waives the runner home on a single with 2 outs. The idea is that 2 out hits are few and far between. Therefore, take the risk and send the runner home. Except this time was different.
The third base coach did not send the runner. But, the batter that hit the ball either did not check the runner or possibly just assumed that he would be sent home, ran to 2B to run into an out.
What actually occurred was the 1B cut the ball because there was no play at home and he threw to the SS for an out on the advancing runner. Quite simple actually. And there was the runner standing on 3B watching all of this occur.
Should the runner have been sent home? Possibly. Probably. But, he wasn't and as long as the third base coach has some discretion there is a chance that he won't be sent home. It is absolutely the responsibility of the batter/runner to check the runner rounding third base before advancing to 2B.
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