Dropped 3rd Strike

[Hugo Tafurst2]

Originally posted by CecilOne
(snip)

Why "not a strike uncaught"? [/QUOTE]

This is the delema....

If the ball strikes the ground and the batter swings and misses, the strike is considered "uncaught"

HOWEVER, if the ball strikes the ground and the batter swings and hits a fly ball, the ball can be "caught" for the out.

The definition of a foul tip(NFHS)states:
"... a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt..... and is legally caught by the catcher. It is a strike."

So one side of the discussion says that when the ball becomes batted, it then can be caught.

The other side (yours I think) says that because the ball stuck the ground before the batter swung, it cannot be a caught third strike..
That, too makes some sense.
But, if you are going to say that it is strike 3 UNcaught, then by rule you have to call it a foul ball!! Don't you?

Besides that, right or wrong, it LOOKS like a caught foul-tip. From a game management point of view, I feel more confident selling that call (that by hitting the ball, he change it's status (to a batted ball, which can be caught for a Foul Tip)

Also,by implication, you are saying that if the ball strikes the ground and then the batter hits it in the air and it "is securely held by F7 (before touching the ground, etc), it is still NOT a catch because the ball hit the ground before the batter hit the ball....
Try to sell THAT!! LOL - I KNOW you aren't saying that, but it seems that that would follow.

I'm not sure how to get a definitive ruling, but for now, that's my thinking, the way I would call it and I'm sticking with it ---- for now.

I'
(Written too early in the morning after a night of debauchery)

[Edited by Hugo Tafurst2 on Apr 3rd, 2004 at 09:07 AM]