Uncaught 3rd strike

TwoBits

You got it right. You have a thrown (pitched) ball that had the opportunity to be caught, but wasn't. As long as the batter did nothing intentionally to deflect the ball, let the resulting play stand.

charliej47

We explained Rule 6.09 to the coach about dropped 3rd strikes and he insisted that the batter interfered with the ball because of the touch.

I was looking through the rules trying to find the interpretation but can not find anything about inadvertent contact.:confused:

GoodwillRef

So the coach wanted you to penalize the batter for his team not making the proper play...:confused:....sounds logical, if you are a coach!

johnnyg08

When you know you're 100% right, make the call and move on. You're not obligated to host a rules clinic on the field. Rat is just looking for you to bail out his team and he may or may not know the rule.

UmpJM

johnnyg08 wrote
When you know you're 100% right, make the call and move on. ....

johnny,

It sounds like charlie is anything BUT "100% certain" he was right. What's your advice to him?

charliej47

I have no problem with our call.

I was looking for some rules comments from OBR that spelled out incidental contact between the batter-runner and the ball.

After the game my partner asked me if I knew something specific other than batter interference. I told him there was no interference.

UmpJM

charlie,

Sounds like your call was correct. From the MLBUM:

6.11 BATTER INTERFERES AFTER THIRD STRIKE NOT CAUGHT

Official Baseball Rule 7.09(a) provides that the batter-runner be called out for interference if "after a third strike he hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball."

Play: First base unoccupied or two out. Strike three not caught. Batter-runner unintentionally kicks, touches, or otherwise deflects the pitched ball that was not caught by the catcher. Catcher is unable to make a play.

Ruling: If this occurs in the vicinity of home plate, the ball is alive and in play. However, if this occurs up the first base line (where the batter-runner has had time to avoid the ball), interference is called, the batter-runner declared out, and runners return to base occupied at time of pitch.

johnnyg08

That's the interp I was thinking of. If the B/R could have avoided being hit up the line, he can be called out as his post states.

charliej47

UmpJM (nee CoachJM) wrote
charlie,

Sounds like your call was correct. From the MLBUM:

JM

I knew I had read it somewhere and I did not have all of my books with me.

Thanks

mbyron

charliej47 wrote
I was looking for some rules comments from OBR that spelled out incidental contact between the batter-runner and the ball.

All you'll find in OBR are definitions of interference. Your play does not meet those definitions, so you should not call INT. You got it right, as everyone has said.