Dropped third strike question

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

My opinion. Part (3) of the casebook ruling has to be defined as the actual dirt portion of liveball territory. The reason. If you define the diamond as only fair ball territory this could happen. D3K, the defense realizes the ball is by the catcher, so all the infielders sprint outside the foul lines on the field, as does the pitcher. Instead of going to get the ball, the catcher heads toward the dugout. If all the infielders cross the foul lines before the batter-runner reaches first base, under (3) we should call the batter runner out, even if she makes an immediate attempt to get to first.

That's bogus. The rationale behind ruling (3) in the case book is to deal with a situation where the BR essentially abandons her effort to advance. We're not going to stand there and wait while she saunters to the dugout, takes off her helmet, hands it to a teammate, waits for another teammate to bring her her chest protector, shin guards, helmet/mask and mitt, puts on her equipment, etc. etc., and she never enters the dugout.

In fact, I think (2) is even more bogus than (3). Why wait until the time of the next pitch in this scenario, or any other scenario for that matter? I can't envision a situation where an umpire is going to allow for a pitch to be delivered while this BR is still somewhere on the field. Ok, maybe if after she strikes out with less than two outs, she immediately goes to the coach's box and assumes coaching duties, or she goes to the bullpen area that is inside the fences to warm up. But I'm ruling her out well before that for abandonment.

[MD Longhorn]

Coach has no basis for complaint. His team did not complete the out. ANY decent catcher knows that if they don't catch the third strike, they have to complete the out. And any decent coach knows the same.

Ball is live - not your fault the defense started leaving the field.

[CecilOne]

Good call, Chapmaja, and good research.

We keep finding editing needs in all the books, unfortunately.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Coach has no basis for complaint. His team did not complete the out. ANY decent catcher knows that if they don't catch the third strike, they have to complete the out. And any decent coach knows the same.

Ball is live - not your fault the defense started leaving the field.

Does anyone know what the college rule is on this? The reason I ask is the coach in question was a 4 year starter for a major DI softball program and played in the WCWS as a player. I think she may have felt the rule was the same as college. Is the rule different.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

Does anyone know what the college rule is on this? The reason I ask is the coach in question was a 4 year starter for a major DI softball program and played in the WCWS as a player. I think she may have felt the rule was the same as college. Is the rule different.

The college rule says simply that the BR is out if she leaves the field of play on the uncaught third strike. There are no case plays that mention the BR cannot advance after the next pitch or after the defense leaves fair territory.