Dropped 3rd Stike Fiasco

[SHBroncos]

I coach 11 & 13 year old teams. I insist that my batters ALWAYS take off for first base on a swinging third strike, regardless of the runners on base. They will be told soon enough they're out and I've never seen a rule that says you shouldn't/can't run to first base. If this causes an unnecessary throw to first base, then so be it. Last weekend we had a kid swing at strike two that was in the dirt and he took off for first base. He thought it was strike three. It didn't draw a throw which was good, because we had a runner on third and he would have certainly taken off for home. We also try to remind our catchers when they don't need to throw to first base on dropped third strike... although they should also know when it applies and when it doesn't, but they are young and it's easy to get confused.

[Rcichon]

Yell, [Angry Dad Voice here] BATTER'S OUT!

If F2 makes a mistake like throwing to 1st, then watch for a tag by F3; maybe R1 wil try to return. One could only hope....

Play on.

[blueump]

Originally Posted by Rcichon

Yell, [Angry Dad Voice here] BATTER'S OUT!

Reminds me of something I did last week. I used the "angry dad voice" on a dropped 3rd strike "batter's out!" and got a typical teen-age reaction - "lighten up old man!"

Ticked me off at first, but now it seems funny!

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by blueump

Reminds me of something I did last week. I used the "angry dad voice" on a dropped 3rd strike "batter's out!" and got a typical teen-age reaction - "lighten up old man!"

Ticked me off at first, but now it seems funny!

Could be worse. First game of the season this year we had no outs and R1 with a drop third strike that went to the backstop. R1 advanced and the BR went to first. In the confusion, neither I nor my partner called the batter out. The pitcher walked to me (I was the BU) with a bit of fear in him and said "I'm not sure but I play travelling ball and shouldn't the batter be out?" I quickly reviewed the situation and realized that he should be out and corrected our error, but I couldn't believe neither of us picked it up.