Quote:
Originally posted by Bob Gingerich
I know the answer to my question
Apparently not.
but I want some backup to show my partner and assignor (one in the same). He asked me for help on a "dropped 3rd" last night. The ball dove into the dirt and the lefthanded batter swung and missed. The catcher picked it clean and threw to second to try to retire R1. I told him that the batter should be called out. He asked me if the ball hit the ground. I said, "Yes, but the catcher caught the ball. The ground has nothing to do with it." He looked at me like I was crazy. He turned and allowed the batter to stay at first. Was I right? Oh, Fed rules. The next batter struck out for the 3rd out. There were two outs at the time so the BR could run on a dropped 3rd.
[Edited by Bob Gingerich on Apr 13th, 2005 at 11:02 AM]
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Think of the rule as an "uncaught" third strike, not a dropped third strike. If the pitch hit the dirt prior to be caught by F2, it is an uncaught third strike, and if the other conditions allow, the batter is now the batter/runner and needs to be tagged or thrown out at first.