Up Your IQ: One Out Rule (Contact Play) Alternate Scenario - 1st and 3rd

How We Got Here

In Part 1 we explored what "the one out rule" or "contact play" is and why we run it.

In Part 2 went over the the mechanics of how the play is run and what your responsibilities are as the baserunner on 3rd. We also threw in a couple variables that gave some nuance to the play.

For both of these parts we assumed that the scenario was very cookie cutter: one out and a runner on 3rd base. There were no other baserunners. What happens when we put a runner on 1st? When I'm coaching 3rd base, I get asked all the time by the runner on 3rd what to do in this scenario, so I thought it would be a nice addition to our previous posts.

Regular Scenario

There is one out and a runner on 3rd. Assume for now there isn't a runner on any other base. The infield is positioned IN across all positions (1B, 2B, 3B, SS).

Alternate Scenario - Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 Out

Generally in this scenario, the infield is likely to be in double play depth and not playing in. This means the middle infielders are playing a little shallower than normal depth, but not even close to in on the grass. The corner infielders are likely up on the grass, but may be a couple steps deeper than that depending on the hitter's speed and/or hit tendencies.

If you are the runner on 3rd base in this scenario, you are running home 100 percent of the time on a routine groundball to any position. It doesn't matter what your speed is. Think about the potential outcomes if you run vs. if you don't run.

Potential Results If Run from 3rd

1. The infield successfully turns the double play, inning over.
2. The infield doesn't successfully turn the double play, you score, the inning continues.
3. The infield doesn't try to turn the double play and gets you out instead, the inning continues.

Potential Results If Don't Run from 3rd

1. The infield successfully turns the double play, inning over.
2. The infield doesn't successfully turn the double play, you're still standing at 3rd (this is a BIG no-no).
3. There is no option 3 because you didn't move and they tried to turn the double play no matter what.

The big one we're trying to avoid here is number 2. If the infield tries to turn the double play, but your hitter busted his butt down the line to beat it out and you're still standing on 3rd base, that is a HUGE problem. That is taking a run off the board from your team and taking an RBI away from the hitter.

You can boil it down to this: at all costs, we are trying to avoid the double play. If you make an out at home plate, who cares? That is better than the alternative of the inning ending. Here are a few great examples of what running from 3rd will do in this scenario:

Distract Fielder, Inning Continues

Anyone that knows me knows how much I love ripping on the Dodgers. In this case it's the golden boy himself making a bad decision (like the one he made to bet on games and get his best friend thrown in jail 😄, Ok I'll stop).

This is a ROUTINE inning ending double play. But Brenton Doyle does a great job of running on the groundball, distracting Shohei Ohtani and then staying in the rundown long enough to get Orlando Arcia to 3rd base. The inning continues and what happens two pitches later? -

You see the payoff right away. The good baserunning by Doyle directly results in another run for the Rockies on their way to an 8-3 win.

Count the Run

Now here's the scenario where we see the groundball and the team tries to turn the double play unsuccessfully -

Note - the Orioles are winning 4-0 here, so the 3rd baseman is deeper than he normally would be in a closer game. They are content with trading an out for a run. It still demonstrates the process.

It would be CRIMINAL for the baserunner on 3rd to still be standing there after your hitter beats out the double play. Aaron Judge hustles down the line and gets an RBI while ending the shutout.

Stay in the Rundown as Long as Possible

The last example I want to show is of the Phillies. Edmundo Sosa does a great job of staying in a rundown as long as he can to actually IMPROVE the scenario for his team. Here's a look at that -

Sosa does a great job of staying in the rundown here and even motioning to Trea Turner telling him to get to 2nd base. By staying in the rundown, he not only gets the lead runner to 3rd base, but also the trail runner (the hitter) to 2nd. A two out hit now likely gets the Phillies two runs instead of just the one.

Through all of my querying, I couldn't find a SINGLE EXAMPLE of a Major League baserunner staying at 3rd base on a groundball in this scenario. That should tell you everything you need to know. Do not stand at 3rd and be a spectator in this scenario.

Summary

I thought this specific play was important to go over because players ask me ALL THE TIME what to do in this scenario when I'm coaching 3rd base. When you explain to the runner that getting out at home is better than the inning ending it makes sense to them, but it doesn't always click right away. 1st and 3rd, 1 out, always run on that groundball.