3rd Strike Caught on the Bounce

[bob jenkins]

A pitch that bounces cannot be a caught strike (well, unless the pitch is then foul tipped)

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

A pitch that bounces cannot be a caught strike (well, unless the pitch is then foul tipped)

Bob is correct.

[jicecone]

Bob is correct that it is not a caught strike however, it is a strike and in this case strike three. The confusion may have been the fact that the umpire indicated an out on the play (closed fist) but, there was also confusion by the player and coach not knowing the rules about a third strike not caught by a catcher.

[johnnyg08]

Players are responsible for knowing the situation.

[DG]

Umpire should signal strike, and then signal and say "no catch" to signify to all that it is not a caught third strike.

[CoachPaul]

Some umpires signal each strike with a fist. I don't like that. We point and verbalize or simply verbalize the strike. With a ball in the dirt offered at by the batter we verbalize clearly "strike three" but don't ring him up like we would on a caught third strike. In the absence of the emphatic call, both the catcher and the hitter know something remains unsettled and there is still action to be taken

[FTVMartin]

why did the umpire give a verbal on a swinging strike?

[CoachPaul]

Some umpires signal each strike with a fist. I don't like that. We point and verbalize or simply verbalize the strike. With a ball in the dirt offered at by the batter we verbalize clearly "strike three" but don't ring him up like we would on a called third strike. In the absence of the emphatic call, both the catcher and the hitter know something remains unsettled and there is still action to be taken.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by CoachPaul

Some umpires signal each strike with a fist. I don't like that. We point and verbalize or simply verbalize the strike. With a ball in the dirt offered at by the batter we verbalize clearly "strike three" but don't ring him up like we would on a caught third strike. In the absence of the emphatic call, both the catcher and the hitter know something remains unsettled and there is still action to be taken

There's really nothing wrong with using the hammer (i.e. fist) as the mechanic for calling a strike. Basically, umpires are either "hammer" or "pointer" guys. Both are perfectly acceptable and you see this at the MLB-level, as well.

In the case of an uncaught third strike, the hammer-guy is OK as long as he immediately follows it up with the safe signal and says, "no catch". This seems to be the MLB mechanic that I've seen and it seems to work perfectly fine. This all evolved as a result of the Doug Eddings incident in the 2005 ALCS.
RealClearSports - Top 10 Blown Calls in Baseball History - Doug Eddings, Uncaught Third Strike, 2005 ALCS Game 2