Unusual dropped third strike

[Linknblue]

The initial call was a ball as I understand it. Then the defensive team asked the PU to ask for help. It's a ball at this point, right? Base umpire reverses call and says "strike".

On the one hand, the plate umpire put the offense as a disadvantage because he had to ask for help (or did) whatever. Then the BU puts the offense at a disadvantage because the 3rd strike was a "delayed" call.

I say, batter's out ...... you don't get to run because of this "umpire caused delay".

Just my humble opinion...........in this situation, common sense says the blues blue it by allowing the dropped third strike.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Linknblue

...On the one hand, the plate umpire put the offense as a disadvantage ...Then the BU puts the offense at a disadvantage ...I say, batter's out ....

You simply declare the BR out because the umpires put the BR at a disadvantage? How do you figure that?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

You simply declare the BR out because the umpires put the BR at a disadvantage? How do you figure that?

You simply declare the BR safe because the umpires put the defense at a disadvantage? How do you figure that?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Boys and girls,

You can argue who was placed at a disadvantage until the cows come home (or sheep, depending on where you live).

So, where to you draw the line? In the rule book. Use the tools available. No, it's not going to be "FAIR" to someone, but that is life on the field.

The book states that if the BR, after an uncaught 3rd strike, is touched with the ball or 1B touched by a player in possession of the ball, prior to the BR reaching that base, the ruling is out.

Like it or not, the disadvantage argument is a wash as both teams were placed in comparable levels of a disadvantage. The only option left is to use the rules which will prevail in the long run.

[justmom]

I can still see WMB's point here. A coach could tell their catcher to always drop the ball on a third strike check-swing (especially if it's obviously out of the strike zone) then ask for an appeal while picking up the ball and touching the batter. The only way you could coach the offense for this situation would be to tell them to ALWAYS run ALL the way to first on the next pitch if there are two strikes in the count no matter what the PU called the pitch - just in case it gets appealed...Especially since the question of whether or not it was a swing or a check-swing is a judgment call subject to appeal.