|
| Terry B
April 17, 2014
9:04:46 AM
Entry #: 4121221
| UNCAUGHT THIRD STRIKE RULE
In baseball and softball,(Our 14U, 18U, and Major Boys ONLY) an uncaught third strike (sometimes inaccurately referred to as a dropped third strike) occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch for the third strike. A pitch is considered uncaught when the ball touches the ground before being caught, or if the ball is dropped after being grasped. On an uncaught third strike with no runner on first base (or with two outs regardless of whether there is a runner on f irst) the batter immediately becomes a runner. The strike is called, but the umpire does not call the batter out. Some umpires will actively signal that there is "no catch" of the pitch. The batter can then attempt to reach first base, and must be tagged or thrown out.
One intent of this rule is to ensure that a defensive player fields the ball cleanly in order for that team to record an out. It was thought that it is not enough that the offensive player is unsuccessful in order for an out to be made a defensive player must be successful as well.
Regardless of the outcome of an uncaught strike three, the pitcher is statistically credited with a strikeout.
Because of the uncaught third strike rule, it is possible for a pitcher to register more than three strikeouts in an inning, a feat which has been accomplished in the major leagues 47 times since 1901 [3], though at one point nearly forty years passed before this feat was repeated (1 916-1956).
Notice that if, at the time of the strike three pitch, first base is occupied with fewer than 2 outs, the batter is out and does not become a runner. This is to prevent the defense from deliberately dropping the 3rd strike and getting a double or triple play as a result, because of the possible force play at two or three bases in this situation.
|
