I know this is going to sounds like a stupid question but, what constitutes a "dropped 3rd strike"? I know, ball gets by F2 ect, but what if ball hits ground before reaching home plate, batter swings, catcher fields the ball on the bounce? Checked the ASA rule book, but not being very smart, was not very clear to me. Thanks in advance..

Technically, it is an un-caught third strike. The ball must be caught. To be caught, the ball must be in-flight. If the ball touches the ground, it is not in-flight.

WMB

Achy,
Check out Rule 1 in the ASA rule book. Look under trapped ball. This should clear it up for you.

Re-read 8-1-B

.....catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground....

Notice;
ball can touch ground anywhere between pitcher and catcher, also, there is no mention of a swing by the batter...

On minor exception (if I was taught correctly):

If the pitch should touch the ground, bounce up and the batter's bat makes contact with the ball... and then the ball goes directly to the catchers glove/mitt, and the catcher catches the ball... it is then considered a (caught) foul tip and an out.

Only if there were already 2 strikes.

The main point here is that once the bat makes contact with the ball, the status of the ball changes from a pitched ball to a batted ball. Whether the ball hit the ground prior to becoming a batted ball is irrelevant. It is a batted ball like any other batted ball.

Let me get it straight...sorry if I'm belaboring this point. 1B unoccupied. Batter has 2 strikes. Pitch bounces in front of plate, but directly into catcher's glove. Batter swings at pitch and misses. Q: This follows dropped 3rd strike rule and therefore catcher MUST tag BR or throw to 1B for out?

bellnier,

That is correct.

Thanks for all the replies, that is what I thought, but just wanted to make sure..