Double play

Double play is a technical term in baseball that describes “making of” two attackers in a single play. With a double play, the defensive team can very quickly turn a game situation that is initially promising for the offensive in their favor. In baseball, a double play is also known as turning two , twin killing or, for obvious reasons, pitcher's best friend .

Types of double play

Force double plays

The most common type of double plays starts with at least one runner (runner) on base, extending in a situation Force is. This means that if the ball hits the ground, the runner loses the right to his current base and must definitely go to the next base. In such a situation, after having brought the batted ball under control (in the glove or in the hand), the defenders only need to touch the base to be approached in order to “kill” the runner. If the ball is hit hard, there is still enough time to identify the batsman at first base.

The vast majority of all double plays are played on second and first base. A middle infielder ( shortstop or second baseman) takes the flat batted ball ( ground ball ) of batter and throws him to his partner who covers second base. Due to the force-play situation, the fielder only has to touch the base briefly (runner is out) and can immediately throw on to first base (batsman is out). If the shortstop picks up the ball and throws it to the second baseman, it is also called a "6-4-3 double play". The numbers refer to the positions of the defenders. In this case shortstop (6), second baseman (4) and first baseman (3). Accordingly, the second baseman picking up the ball and then throwing it at the short stop is a "4-6-3 double play". The player who scores the first out of a double play and then throws the ball on is also called a pivot man (from to pivot = to turn).

A "5-4-3 double play" is a little rarer, but still often seen, that is, the ball picking up by the third baseman (5) and the following throw to the second baseman (4), who in turn throws to the first baseman (3) ; this is also called around the horn double play . A double play is also possible after a stroke back to the pitcher (1). Then it is either a "1-6-3 double play" or, much less often, a "1-4-3 double play", depending on whether the shortstop or the second baseman is waiting at second base. Usually in this situation the shortstop will be the pivot because its natural direction of movement to the second base allows a much easier throw to the first base than is the case with the second baseman.

Also common are "6-3" or "4-3 double plays": here the ball is picked up by the middle infielder in the immediate vicinity of the second base, so that a few quick steps to the base are enough to achieve the first out. In rare cases, the second baseman can also touch the running runner on the body and then complete the double play with the throw to first base.

The "3-6-3 double play" is possible if the first baseman picks up the ball and throws it to the shortstop at second base. This turns off the runner and throws back to first base. A variant of this is the "3-6-1 double play" in which the pitcher covers first base because the first baseman can no longer get it back to base in time. Very rarely there is a "3-6-4 double play" when the second baseman secures first base, for example in a mixed situation.

With several runners on base, the defensive will usually try to play the first out against the most advanced runner, since he has come closest to his goal of getting a run. The second out is almost exclusively attempted on first base against the batsman, although there are still runners who have advanced further on the bases than the batter. This is because the batsman has to start running from a standing start after his swing, so he needs significantly longer to get to first base than the runners on the bases who have already separated a few steps from the base ( lead, secondary lead ) and immediately can start walking after the impact. The only exception is the case if the first baseman is very close to first base after picking up the struck ball. Now he can also decide to take out the batter first and only then throw to second base. This type of game is called a reverse force double play , as the usual direction of play is reversed. In this case, the second out becomes a little more demanding because the force situation for the runner was canceled by the batsman's out, so he could theoretically return to first base. In order to stop this runner on second base, the shortstop (it usually covers base) must now touch him on the body ( tag play ).

Force double plays in which an out is scored at home plate are rather rare. A variant would be the "3-2-3 Double Play", which only occurs when the bases are fully occupied ( bases loaded ). The hit ball comes to the first baseman, who throws it to the catcher (2) in order to "kill" the runner who comes from third base. The catcher throws the ball back to the first baseman to “kill” the batsman. Of course, the throw to home plate can also come from any other infielder, including the pitcher. But if an out has already been achieved in the inning, at least the middle infielder will usually try to play the classic double play over second base.

Non-force double plays

Even if a runner is not forced to run to next base, defense can get two out in one move. The first out is usually a flight out, after which the batsman is out immediately. If a batted ball is caught out of the air, all runners must return to their original base or may only now break away from it. If the defense now manages to throw the ball faster to the base before the runner has returned to it, the runner is out. If the runner tries to run to the next base by Tag Up Play after catching the flying ball, he can also be identified by a throw at this base. It is particularly spectacular when the end is scored against the runner at home plate. Only a very strong throw by the outfielder can prevent a run in this situation and lead to a double play.

The strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out double play gets by without a struck ball . Here the batsman is out after the third strike while a runner tries to steal a base. If the catcher manages to throw out the potential base thief, these are also two ends in one move.

Several field players are usually involved in a double play. If a single defender manages to get two out on his own, this is called an "unassisted double play". This usually happens when a line drive is caught out of the air by an infielder (first out) and a runner is subsequently unable to return to his starting point in time (second out).

Triple play

A triple play describes an extremely rare play in which three attackers are identified. Mostly it is an around the horn double play with force-outs at third, second and first base. Many other, more or less confused, variants are also conceivable.

Scoring / Statistics

From a scorer's point of view, every move in which two out are scored is a double play. For field defense as a team, a double play (DP) is noted and every field player involved receives a DP in addition to the assist and / or putout. Because of the many different possible variants, this number is not very meaningful for players; at most in the case of middle infielders, the number of DPs can be an indication of the quality of their field game.

A double play must not be assumed by the scorer: If, for example, an infielder does not get a ground ball under control immediately and "only" manages a break, this is not considered a field game error ( error ). Likewise if the pivot makes an imprecise throw to first base. If, on the other hand, the throw is accurate enough and on time, but the first baseman cannot bring the catchable throw under control, an error must be scored for the first baseman.

If a batter hits a force double play or a reverse force double play, he is chalked a grounded into double play (GiDP) . In the case of a pitcher, many induced GiDP suggest that it is a groundball pitcher.

If a field error occurs in a move between the two outs , the entire move is no longer considered a double play.

Frequency of different variants

For every 100 "6-4-3 double plays" (31% of all force double plays) there are:

83 who are played 4-6-3 (26%).
53 that are played 5-4-3 (16%).
27 who are played 6-3 (8.3%).
20 who are played 1-6-3 (6.2%).
19 the 4-3 are played (5.8%).
9 that are played 3-6-3 (2.8%).
5 who are played 3-6-1 (1.5%).
4 that are played 1-4-3 (1.2%).
4 that are played 3-6 (1.2%).
1 that is played 3-6-4 (0.3%).