Rule 10- Official Scorer and putout

[eagle_12]

Just lazily reading the rule book this afternoon and was reading Rule 10. I know we, as umps, don't worry about scoring the game and what not but I saw a interesting thing and was seeing about everyone elses input.

Rule 10.09 B: The officials scorer shall credit an automatic putout to the catcher when a:
(1) batter is called out on strikes.



My questions:
1.Is that called out, like caught looking, or both instances looking and swinging

2. Why does the catcher get credited with the put out. The definition of a put out is an action by a fielder which causes the out of an offensive player. The pitcher threw the ball, his pitch caused the batter to strike at the ball , or have the umpire to judge it to be a strike,

OR,

does the catcher recieve the credit due to the fact that he caught the ball and during the "point whatever extremly small amount of time" from when the ball crosses the plate to the point he catches it, the batter is sorta in limbo, and is not officially out/retired until the catcher successfully secures the ball.

Just wondering, Thanks