Doesn't matter. It's dead because it hit the batter.

Yes, and the batter's out because there's a rule that says she is.

Actually, the rule only recognizes a strike. The batter is out if it is strike 3, nothing to do with the batter being hit by the ball.

I don't have my current book with me. I do have a pdf copy of the rules from 2005 so that's what I'll cite; I don't think any of this has changed.

Rule 7-6-A is the relevant reference there. It clearly states that the batter is out if hit by strike 3 in the strike zone or if hit by strike 3 while swinging at it.

This discussion is about what would happen if you deleted that rule. 7-6-M doesn't apply because the catcher didn't catch the ball. So how do you get the out?

It would be possible to rewrite the rules with a notation that a batter who got three strikes was out with an exception for U3K but that's not how they read.

It is the third strike that makes the batter out whether it hits him/her or not. The rule you are citing is a redundancy. But I stand corrected you are right it is in the book. Why I have no idea. Probably for the same dummies that believe the IF rule is written properly citing 1st & 2nd or 1st, 2nd & 3rd as qualifiers.

7-4-H & Effect

7-4-H and its effect (in 2005) say that the ball is dead when the batter is hit with a batted ball that this is a strike unless it would be the third strike.
Is it now a citation for the batter being out with three strikes? I know it's three strikes, you're out at the old ball game; but if it's not 7-4-H supposing I asked for a rule citation for that proposition.

Shouldn't that be hit with a pitched ball? Or maybe I've just lost my way in this long, drawn out string.

Talk about beating a dead ball. :(

Is it now a citation for the batter being out with three strikes? I know it's three strikes, you're out at the old ball game; but if it's not 7-4-H supposing I asked for a rule citation for that proposition.[/QUOTE]

7.4 A Strike on the Batter
H. For each pitched ball swung at and missed which touches any part of the batter

Just for the record you are quoting from the 2005 book which is not consistent with the recent year's books.

Irish cited rule 7.4.H. You (youngump) are quoting rule 7.4.H from 2005 which is not the same same as the current books. The rule youngump is citing [see above quote] is actually 7.4.J in the new book.

7.4.H, as Irish stated from the current book, is "for each pitched ball swung at and missed which touches any part of the batter" And this rule has no qualifiers about less than 2 strikes or anything like that. So if batter swings and is hit by the pitch, it is always a strike. And if the batter already had 2 strikes, it is now strike 3. And on strike 3 we all know the batter is OUT. The part about the dead ball, etc. is also clearly listed in the effect section so runners can't advance.

But I think the biggest confusion was that youngump was quoting from the outdated book. A lot has changed since 2005!

Yes, I noted I only had the wrong book available. We're moving and my current books are packed up. Thank you for clarifying Irish's reference. I'm pretty sure the remainder of what I've been saying hasn't changed.

Yes, we all know the batter is out because it's the rule. Specifically it's two rules. One that says the batter is out if the 3rd strike is legally caught or 1B is occupied w/ less than 2 outs. One that says the batter is out if the 3rd strike hits them. You either need both or you need to change the first one to say the batter is out when they get 3 strikes and then add an exception for U3K.