Drop'd third strike or not?

[pitchcoach]

Bases are loaded, one out. Full count on the batter. Plate umpire and one base umpire.

The pitch goes through the strike zone, batter is caught looking and takes it - but, being that the catcher is so far back in the catcher’s box, the pitch literally dies, drops right in front of the catchers toes of his right spike, bounces in the dirt for a split second with the catcher’s mitt right on top of it .. all in one quick motion. But in doing so, the ball slips out of the mitt and the catcher reaches out quickly and regains control.

The catcher instinctively touches home plate, then tags the batter.

How would you rule on this one?

[BrianC14]

Bases are loaded, one out. Full count on the batter. Plate umpire and one base umpire.

The pitch goes through the strike zone, batter is caught looking and takes it - but, being that the catcher is so far back in the catcher’s box, the pitch literally dies, drops right in front of the catchers toes of his right spike, bounces in the dirt for a split second with the catcher’s mitt right on top of it .. all in one quick motion. But in doing so, the ball slips out of the mitt and the catcher reaches out quickly and regains control.

The catcher instinctively touches home plate, then tags the batter.

How would you rule on this one?

Good grief. That's one talented pitcher, for a ball to pass through the strike zone, only to land at the catcher's feet. Or was he really THAT far back?

But I digress...

As for a ruling? There's only one thing to rule upon. Strike 3. Batter's out.

Stepping on the plate is meaningless, as is tagging the batter, he's already out.

The batter cannot advance to first in this situation.

[pitchcoach]

BrianC14 ............... EXACTLY.

Just bear with me a little longer.

Now in the same situation, there’s two outs. Same batter, same pitch, same bases loaded.

But this time, no verbal call by the plate umpire, catcher doesn’t bother with the batter, simply stomps on home plate.

[BrianC14]

BrianC14 ............... EXACTLY.

Just bear with me a little longer.

Now in the same situation, there’s two outs. Same batter, same pitch, same bases loaded.

But this time, no verbal call by the plate umpire, catcher doesn’t bother with the batter, simply stomps on home plate.

Honestly - this is getting tedious....

1) R3 is out.

2) Make sure the umpire's next assignment is for middle school tiddleywinks.

(This isn't for real, is it? The umpire made no call on strike 3? Or is this your way of having some fun?)

[DirtyDawg]

Bases are loaded, one out. Full count on the batter. Plate umpire and one base umpire.

The reason the batter has strike three is that there is only one out. The only time a batter can run on a dropped third strike when first base is occupied is with two outs.

[pitchcoach]

These situations happen in high school game last night. The batter was a RH batter, and the plate umpire’s vantage point, on this particular play, was as good as he was going to get.

The pitches were knuckleballs, real beauties, floated nicely and completely had the batting order guessing all night. The catcher has his hands full trying to maintain control of the pitch.

In any event, everything happened very fast, and from my vantage point in my lawn chair, along the third baseline, both the plate and the base umpire did a superior job all night. In fact, the plate umpire did an outstanding job working with both backstops and managed the dish very well.

With respect to the catcher, he was forced back due to the batter’s stance in the box, which occupied the very rear portion of the batter’s box. But, he (catcher) wasn’t outside of his catcher’s box.

I’m not an umpire, nor do I claim to have any desire to be one. But, I do try to keep myself educated with respect to the rules and protocols of the sport. I’m not educated in the Federal game - not applicable here in Massachusetts.

I’ve directed two first year coaches to this site. Both of these situations happened last evening, and it seemed to start a debate among the two. Learning the rules of this sport is a constant effort, and a sincere one at that. Very informative web site, I hope they both take advantage of it. Thanks for the reply.

ps

BrianC14.... Honestly - this is getting tedious....

Tedious ... is educator's the price of patience, and patience is the price of the uneducated. Again, very informative web site - be patient with those that want to learn.

[yawetag]

ps

BrianC14.... Honestly - this is getting tedious....

Tedious ... is educator's the price of patience, and patience is the price of the uneducated. Again, very informative web site - be patient with those that want to learn.

The problem isn't Brian's patience. It's the fact that:

1. These are VERY basic rules that coaches should know

2. These can be found in the rulebook a lot faster than it took to write it out

[pitchcoach]

yawetag,

Tedious ... is educator's the price of patience, and patience is the price of the uneducated. Again, very informative web site - be patient with those that want to learn.

Regardless of how simple any rule, book, is or should be, doesn't mean one can't ask. If it's that tedious, then perhaps there should be a clearing gate on this site for you to host - being the judge and jury of what should and shouldn't be posted as quesitons and/or situations.

Either way, with our without your opinion(s), very informative web site, very well put together.

[mstaylor]

Basic or not, ask away. Reading the rulebook is essential for both coaches or umpires but it is very dry and not always easy to understand. I always suggest asking when you think you understand it to make sure what you have read is really the way it is called.

How mant times has a coach, and sometimes umpires, say you can't throw to an unoccupied base. This proves they have either read or been taught the rule but have missed the second part about except to make a play. This proves the importance of clarifying.