Don't catch that ball

Sporting News, The, June 19, 2000 by Brendan Roberts

Despite the likelihood of having to hear the increased wrath of the bleacher bums or accusations of "loafing it" from the press, there actually is a time when an outfielder should not catch a fly ball he can get to. Here's the situation:

There's a runner on third base with fewer than two outs, usually with the score tied late in the game. The hitter cracks a deep fly ball--playable--in foul territory down the left or right field line. Though the outfielder undoubtedly will have the urge to catch the ball he's sprinted to foul territory to get, he should let it drop. It will look like he lazily didn't make the effort to catch it, but he may save his team a key run.

Here's why: By catching the deep fly, the outfielder allows the runner on third to tag and score easily. But if he lets it drop, he gives his pitcher another chance at a better result (strikeout, popout, groundout).

Obviously, there are other variables. Some ballparks, such as Yankee Stadium, Enron Field and Busch Stadium, have little or no foul ground deep down the lines. So the choice whether to make the catch is taken away. And if the pitcher is struggling, you might be glad he was able to induce an out, even at the risk of allowing a run. Then there's the runner's speed and the outfielder's arm. If there's a slow runner such as the Braves' Eddie Perez waiting to tag up at third, a rifle-armed outfielder such as the Expos' Vladimir Guerrero should catch almost any ball he'll be able to make a good throw on.

A regular right or left fielder will encounter this decision once or twice a year, but making the wrong decision could cost his team the game.