if a pitch is inside the strike zone, but the catcher dropped it. is it a ball?

[pico]

or a strike?

[mathdotcom]

no

[ryanXL977]

or a strike?

a ball doesnt have to be caught to be a strike.

[Brock Landers]

are you kidding?

the only time it matters if the catcher catches the ball is on a dropped 3rd strike with a base unoccupied, then they have to tag the runner or throw it to 1st

[pavyracer]

Brock is correct. If strike 3 is dropped then the runner has to be tagged to get the out.

[ryanXL977]

only if there is a runner on first

[pavyracer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaught_third_strike

[Nicky Santoro]

are you kidding?

the only time it matters if the catcher catches the ball is on a dropped 3rd strike with a base unoccupied, then they have to tag the runner or throw it to 1st

unless there's 2 outs.. if there's 2 down and 1st base is occupied, then they still have to throw it to 1st.

[mtneer1212]

unless there's 2 outs.. if there's 2 down and 1st base is occupied, then they still have to throw it to 1st.

Not neccesarily..... they can actually get a force a base - if the bases are loaded with two out, a dropped third strike does not have to be thrown to first -- the catcher could throw to any base or tag home for the force.

[Chi_archie]

word...

[Nicky Santoro]

Not neccesarily..... they can actually get a force a base - if the bases are loaded with two out, a dropped third strike does not have to be thrown to first -- the catcher could throw to any base or tag home for the force.

of course, ONLY if bases are loaded and 2 outs can he touch the plate.. if they are juiced and it was less than 2 outs, then batter is automatically out and no throw to 1st is necessary.

[Masu485]

wait... then why can't catcher's just drop every 3rd strike when bases are loaded, and just get a force out at home?

[Chi_archie]

? he'd already have the 3rd out by catching it...... why drop it and look like a douche?

[reno cool]

now if its a foul tip on strike 3 and he catches its an but not on strike 2. right?

[reno cool]

If a ball hits the batter and gos to the backstop how far can runners advance?

[Willie Bee]

now if its a foul tip on strike 3 and he catches its an but not on strike 2. right?

Right. Has to be some arc or altitude on foul balls before the third strike to count as an out.

If a ball hits the batter and gos to the backstop how far can runners advance?

One base. Ball is dead once it hits the batter.

[pico]

let's say base is loaded bottom of the 9th. a wild pitch hit the batter in the head and he is dead. is the game suspended? or they have a pinch runner walk to 1st for the winner?

[Mudcat]

I believe the official rule is to have two teammates drag the dead guy by his ears to first base.

[AgainstAllOdds]

I believe the official rule is to have two teammates drag the dead guy by his ears to first base.

[Nicky Santoro]

If a ball hits the batter and gos to the backstop how far can runners advance?

dead ball. runners advance only 1 base and batter takes his base.

[Vesuvius]

ACTUALLY, in MLB, MOST of the time, if the ball is in the strike zone, and the catcher drops it, the ump will call a ball. I'm not saying all the time but a good amount of the time this happens. Announcers talk about this sometimes too.

I also had personal experience of this in high school baseball even though it wasn't as strict.

[Matt Rain]

I believe the official rule is to have two teammates drag the dead guy by his ears to first base.

[Willie Bee]

let's say base is loaded bottom of the 9th. a wild pitch hit the batter in the head and he is dead. is the game suspended? or they have a pinch runner walk to 1st for the winner?

Yes, if that happened a pinch runner could be employed to complete the play. Even if he is not dead but otherwise incapable of completing the trek to first, a runner can be inserted.

[Shark79]

Thats why Willie is our Manager.

Man my team rocks !!

[Shark79]

let's say base is loaded bottom of the 9th. a wild pitch hit the batter in the head and he is dead. is the game suspended? or they have a pinch runner walk to 1st for the winner?

They stick the bat up his @ss .. if he doesnt react, then he is pushed with the bat all the way to first base.

[BTTNext]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaught_third_strike

That's some great stuff. I never even realized that a pitcher can get 3+ strikeouts in an inning. Unreal.

[Willie Bee]

Here's another one for y'all that is often missed by the 'average fan.' Let's say a batter squares around as if to bunt like the photo above. The barrel of the bat could even be a little more out. The batter just holds the pose and the pitch comes in wide of the plate. Ball or strike?

[Shark79]

If he stays in same position ... I say strike.

[louisvillekid]

i think you have to pull the bat back or at least twist your body back or drop your hind leg back or something, i think if you just hold that position as if to bunt you get called for a strike.

[pico]

ACTUALLY, in MLB, MOST of the time, if the ball is in the strike zone, and the catcher drops it, the ump will call a ball. I'm not saying all the time but a good amount of the time this happens. Announcers talk about this sometimes too.

I also had personal experience of this in high school baseball even though it wasn't as strict.

finally, a smart response. if you watch enough baseball, you'll realize it is almost 50/50 for ball or strike depends on the umpire.

stop reading wikipedia and watch some real games.

[Willie Bee]

Nope, it's a ball. Batter has to OFFER at the pitch. Freezing in that position with their bat just out over the plate a little does not constitute offering at the pitch.


Here's an explanation and then some on the question Pico had regarding a batter killed or injured by a pitch:

Base running assistance

Have a read of rule 5.10, which states: If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play.

This can result in some interesting base running scenarios. You may recall the Red Sox Blue Jays game on September 14, 2005 where, with Gabe Kapler on first, Tony Graffanino homered. While rounding second base Kapler ruptured his achillies tendon. Although he tried to get up he couldn’t continue. Graffanino correctly remained 10 feet or so behind Kapler knowing that if he passed him the home run would be struck from the record, Kapler would be out and Graffanino would have to stay on second. After a five minute delay Boston Manager, Terry Francona invoked rule 5.10 to put in a substitute runner, Alejandro Machado, for Kapler. The home run was completed and Boston scored two runs.

An interesting variation would have been if Graffanino had been injured and a pinch runner had scored his run. Would Graffanino have been credited with the home run? The rules aren’t clear so answers on a postcard please.

Incidentally, the rules would have also allowed Graffanino to give Kapler direct assistance. In the above instance there is nothing in the rules to prevent Graffanino from pushing or lifting Kapler around the bases himself.

[Mudcat]

Here's another one for y'all that is often missed by the 'average fan.' Let's say a batter squares around as if to bunt like the photo above. The barrel of the bat could even be a little more out. The batter just holds the pose and the pitch comes in wide of the plate. Ball or strike?

I'll say ball.

Although much like umpires having an instinct to call a pitch in the strike zone which a catcher drops a ball, I suspect some umpires would have an instinct to call this a strike even though that may not be the letter of the rule.

Or maybe I'm just totally wrong. But I'm saying ball.

I await the official word.

[Mudcat]

I typed my response (which was, like, totally correct) before Willie posted that.

I swear on my mama's eyes.

[Shark79]

Mudcat ... cheating is not an option ... Willie answered before you did.

[louisvillekid]

mudcat, WB's post probably went trough at 12:48 and 59 seconds and your post came through at 12:49 and 5 seconds. So you gonna need to hit that quote button and type like Lou and get yourself a badazz puter and internet connection before we believe you.