It actually makes sense.
When an obscure rule of sports comes up, usually I’m screaming my head off because I know the rule. I’m upset at the players or coaches wondering how they play the game without knowing the rule. Knowing specific rules can give you an advantage. Since I was an “unathletic athlete” in high school, I had to know every little rule so I could find any advantage to close the gap with someone who was an athlete.
The “fourth-out rule” is actually a rule I never knew existed, and I learned something about the game. If you follow the logic behind the rule, it makes sense.
Here’s what happened: top of the 2nd, runners on second and third, one out. Line drive through the box caught by Haren. That’s out number two. Haren turns to throw the ball to Lopez at second. As Lopez is running to tag Juan Pierre who’s well off the bag at second, Andre Ethier touches home plate without tagging up.
I’m sure you’ve seen an appeal play before. If a runner breaks too early tagging up, the pitcher steps on the rubber and addresses the plate to put the ball back in play. Then he announces he’s appealing and throws the ball to a fielder closest to the bag. The fielder steps on the bag and the umpire rules safe or out.
As far as scoring runs is concerned, that’s simple. A run can not score as long as a force out is possible. If a runner reaches home before the third out, the run counts unless there is a force play. By Lopez not touching second base, he didn’t force out Pierre at second. Since Pierre was tagged out and not forced out, Ethier’s run scored before the third out of the inning. Normally, that’s easy to understand. The problem here is, the runner on third didn’t tag up either. So how does a runner score that didn’t tag up?
The play gets weird now. Ethier’s run doesn’t count until Eric Byrnes runs off the field (yes, I found a way to blame something else on Byrnes). If the D-backs would have appealed the play by never calling time out, and announced to the third base umpire they were appealing Ethier leaving the bag, Ethier would have been called out. Obviously, that’s the fourth out of the inning and that’s why it’s called the fourth-out rule. Technically, it’s not the fourth out. The defense gets to choose which out they want as the third out. By choosing Ethier as the third out, he doesn’t score. In the scorebook, Pierre is no longer out at second and he’s stranded at second (despite being called out).
The reason why Byrnes gets the blame is the opportunity to appeal ends when all defensive players leave fair territory. As long as there’s one fielder in fair territory, the D-backs can still return to the field of play and appeal the play at third. Byrnes was in right field and the D-backs were in the third base dugout. He was the last one off the field. As soon as he crossed the third base line on his way to the dugout, the D-backs lost the right to appeal.
To make it easier to understand, think of landing on Boardwalk. If you want to, you can announce you’ve landed on Boardwalk and pay your rent to the owner of the property. However, if you’re anything like me, you pay nothing until you’re asked for the money by the owner. The Dodgers don’t have to announce to the D-backs they didn’t tag up at third, it’s up to the D-backs to appeal the play.
So the fast explanation for the four-out rule: 1) runner scores before third out, 2) third out is recorded via tag instead of force out, 3) defense leaves field before appeal is made.
The one thing about the four-out rule that isn’t being said, none of this would matter if the D-backs came to the plate with a plan, executed that plan, and manufactured runs. It’s another great Dan Haren performance wasted.
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