Rare Situation

[Millah]

Runner on 3rd. 2 Outs. 3-2 Count. Runner starts to steal home. Pitcher doesn't see him. Batter does not swing. Pitch crosses the plate. Catcher catches the pitch. Plate umpire calls strike 3. Catcher gets slide into by runner. Catcher drops the ball. All of this happens in just a couple-few seconds. Whatcha got?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[tjones1]

Strike 3 = 3rd out. Half-inning over.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Strike 3 = 3rd out. Half-inning over.

That's it. The contact from the runner is nothing (unless malicious), since F2 is not playing on him. If F2 catches the pitch, the half inning is over.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Strike 3 = 3rd out. Half-inning over.

Agreed!

[Richard_Siegel]

Originally Posted by Millah

Runner on 3rd. 2 Outs. 3-2 Count. Runner starts to steal home. Pitcher doesn't see him. Batter does not swing. Pitch crosses the plate. Catcher catches the pitch. Plate umpire calls strike 3. Catcher gets slide into by runner. Catcher drops the ball. All of this happens in just a couple-few seconds. Whatcha got?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

You rule the pitch was caught by the cather, and the accidental contact by the runner which casued the ball to be subsequently dropped by F2 does not create a "dropped thrird strike." Hence, we have strike three, the batter out before reaching 1B safely and this ends the inning.