Definition of Sacrifice

[zoneranger]

A friend of mine, who plays a lot of softball, wants to know what the official definition is of a sacrifice fly. Do the rules say that a runner must score or only that a runner must advance a base?

[habsfannova]

I've only heard the term used for runs scored.

[CaolinaJoe]

For a sacrifice fly, a runner must score.

For a sacrifice hit, you must advance the runner. Usually only done to get a guy to third or score.

[slapshot]

Outs that advance the runners are not necessarily sacrifices. Some are fielder's choices. I think that to be a sacrifice, the batter has to put the ball in play in a direction that allows the runner to advance. Like a bunt towards first that moves a runner from second to third, or a ground ball to the right side of the infield that does the same thing.

If the batter hits a groundout to shortstop and a runner advances from second to third, that's not necessarily a sacrifice. The official scorer would have to determine if the runner advancing was due to the direction the ball was hit.

I think all flyouts to the outfield that advance runners on the tag up are sacrifices as well.

[wheateater]

Isn't a sac bunt down the third base line to move a runner or runners over into scoring position is still called a "sacrifice hit," too?

[slapshot]

It's the official scorer's decision...if he feels that the runners advances because of the bunt, then yes, it's a sacrifice bunt.

[CaolinaJoe]

A sacrifice hit is always a bunt. It is when you obviously are not trying to get on base, your intent is solely to advance the runner. If you happen to reach on an error it is still a sac hit. But, if a guy bunts trying to get a hit, it's not a sacrifice. Basically at that point it's an official scorers decision.

[zoneranger]

Thank you, gentlemen!!!

[mjrbaseball]

Just for the sake of completeness, here is the definition of "sacrifice" from the Official Baseball Rulebook:

10.09 SACRIFICES

a. Score a sacrifice bunt when, before two are out, the batter advances one or more runners with a bunt and is put out at first base, or would have been put out except for a fielding error.

b. Score a sacrifice bunt when, before two are out, the fielders handle a bunted ball without error in an unsuccessful attempt to put out a preceding runner advancing one base. EXCEPTION: When an attempt to turn a bunt into a putout of a preceding runner fails, and in the scorer's judgment perfect play would not have put out the batter at first base, the batter shall be credited with a one base hit and not a sacrifice.

c. Do not score a sacrifice bunt when any runner is put out attempting to advance one base on a bunt. Charge the batter with a time at bat.

d. Do not score a sacrifice bunt when, in the judgment of the scorer, the batter is bunting primarily for a base hit and not for the purpose of advancing a runner or runners. Charge the batter with a time at bat. NOTE: In applying the above rule, always give the batter the benefit of the doubt.

e. Score a sacrifice fly when, before two are out, the batter hits a fly ball or a line drive handled by an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield which (1) is caught, and a runner scores after the catch, or (2) is dropped, and a runner scores, if in the scorer's judgment the runner could have scored after the catch had the fly been caught. NOTE: Score a sacrifice fly in accordance with 10.09 e. (2) even though another runner is forced out by reason of the batter becoming a runner.