Batter-Runner on uncaught 3rd strike and loose ball

[youngump]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Different rule, but absolutely yes.

What do you mean by different rule? I had in my mind somewhere mapped this as similar to hitting the ball a second time with the bat, but as it's the first time, I guess that wouldn't apply. So we just have the regular interference rules, no?

[BretMan]

I'd like to see this rule be similar to when a baserunner gets hit with a deflected batted ball. When that happens the runner gets a break if contact with the ball was unavoidable.

Why should the defense get a free out, plus halt the advancement of any other runners, just because they couldnt catch the ball and it happened to deflect into the runner or her path?

[PandaBear]

The original question came out of this scenario, where a coach was looking for an out that the catcher had already let get away.