Is not the ball dead if it hits a batter even
though he has swung at it? DEAD BALL STRIKE?
Randy Johnson got his umptenth zillion strike
out last nite on such a play, however, out was
not recorded until catcher threw the ball to
F1. I am not a baseball umpire, so my question
is, would the drop thrid strike, base unoccupied
rule applied? IMHO, I dont think that they had
to throw to first base for the out, since ball
should have been declared dead upon striking the
batter.

Yes, the ball is dead anytime it hits the batter.

"[The] out was not recorded until catcher threw the ball to
F1." F1? Maybe you meant F3? Anyway, are you sure the out wasn't recorded until then? Maybe the players didn't know the rules and F2 threw the ball anyway.

As Bob J said, maybe F2 was throwing down because he (as many players) doesn't know the rule. Or, maybe he was starting an "around the horn" after the K.

Bob

The play I was refering to was reported in news
papers all over my The Associated Press.


Quote:
_____________________________________________
Originally posted by The Associated Press

The strikeout that moved Johnson(Randy) past
Ferguson Jenkins was a controversial one. The
pitch hit R. White in the leg, but he appeared
to swing at it, catcher D. Miller threw the ball
to first baseman E Durazo FOR THE OUT. Unquote.

The umpires ruled it a strikeout....

The only controversy was in the eyes of the reporter. The ump saw the play and called it a strike. It's a toss-up who knows less rules, reporters or announcers.

Bob