Question on dropped thrid strike

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

The only reason he's in a rundown is because the defense is playing on him. I'm not going to reward stupidity.

Whose stupidity are you not rewarding -- the retired batter's or the defense's? In the rundown situation, I'm giving the defense the benefit.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by yawetag

In the rundown situation, I'm giving the defense the benefit.

What did they do to deserve that? They made a play (or thought so) on a runner who was out and, by rule, not interfering. Also by rule, a run-down is an act of the defense. Think about it.

[greymule]

I think that by committing the overt act of decoying the defense (getting in a rundown), the "runner" is in fact interfering—by rule. He is doing more than committing the "act alone" of legitimately "continu[ing] to advance." He is intentionally attempting to confuse the fielders.

"Continues to advance" and "runs the bases" aren't necessarily the same thing.

If I have time today, I'll try to find something on this in the J/R or Evans or PBUC. I hope somebody beats me to it.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by greymule

I think that by committing the overt act of decoying the defense (getting in a rundown)...

The defense created the run-down, not the runner.
See "PICKLE" in Section 2 (Definition of Terms).