I don't understand the baseball rule that the third strike (swinging) must be caught by the catcher...

Question

or the batter has the opportunity to outrun the throw from the catcher to first base. The at-bat would be recorded as a strike-out, correct?, but the result could allow the batter to be safe at first. Doesn't this sometime allow for four outs in this half of the inning? Why does this rule exist?

Answer 1

You are correct, it goes down as a strike out and an error by the catcher.  I doubt it's ever happened, but you could have an infinit amount of outs in an inning if you have a bad enough catcher or pitcher.  The batter can't take 1st base if it is already occupied though either.

Answer 2

I really dont know what the rule is.  I think its so that the runner can have a chance if they strike out.  Or it could be so that a pitcher can get 28 strikouts in a game.

Sorry but I dont know

Answer 3

Sounds like you do.  

The thrid strike must be caught by the catcher.

Answer 4

The rule has been around for a long time but I'm not really sure why it exists.

The rule is, if the third strike is not caught cleanly by the catcher the batter can run to first provided first base is unoccupied or there are two outs.

The catcher is not charge with an error if the batter is safe.  It's scored either a wild pitch or a passed ball.

There have been quite a few occurances of pitchers getting 4 strikeouts in one inning.  A couple of minor leaguers even got 5 in an inning and Joe Niekro did it once in an exhibition game.

Here's a list of pitchers that have accomplished 4 strikeouts in a MLB game: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/fe...  Chuck Finley is the only one to do it more than once and he did it 3 times.

Answer 5

if  the batter tips the ball into the glove the first two strikes he isnt out

but if he does on the 3 he is out

Answer 6

Only on a dropped third strike. If the catcher does not catch the pitch on a third strike, the batter must be tagged out, or thrown out.

Answer 7

That rule allows the batter to reach base on an error by the catcher.  The same way a ground ball through the shortstop's legs should be an out, but the batter reaches.  Same idea.

**The dropped third strike rule is in effect if first base is open, or if there are 2 outs, regardless of a runner on first base.**

Answer 8

Do you understand the infield fly rule?

Yes it's still a K. Pitchers have had 4 K's in a game on a few occasions. It's just a finality like if you fly out or ground out the ball has to end up in a glove (the first baseman's in the ground out scenario). It goes as a K and reach by an error either on the pitcher or catcher depending whether it's a passed ball or wild pitch. I bet you don't understand anything I've said.

Answer 9

The rule has been on the books from the earliest days of the game, right in there with Alexander Cartwright's original rules from 1845:

~~~~~

11th.

Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.

~~~~~

This is a way to force the pitcher and catcher to make sure to "work" for the strikeout.  He can't just fire one at the dirt and hope the batter swings.  He must perform the additional "trick" of throwing a pitch the catcher can handle, and the catcher must catch the ball.  It's part of his job description.  It adds more risk for pitcher and catcher.

If there's a runner on first and less than two out, the batter is automatically out, and the runner is not forced to advance.  After all, why give the defense a chance to turn a double play because their pitcher threw a wild pitch?  That makes no sense!  However, some sets of 19th-century rules actually did have this provision; the runners were actually forced to run!  In today's game, the rules are written such that it is NEVER advantageous for the defense to drop the ball; there is the occasional advantage to allowing the ball to fall, but that's different.

With less than two out, the runners MAY risk the advance, but are not forced to.

Again, it's all about making sure the defense completes the putout, and making sure the CATCHer does his job; namely, to CATCH the ball!

The rule never allows for four outs; it allows for four (or more) strikeouts.  A strikeout is not necessarily an out.  A technicality, I know, but careful of the wording there.

That's all there is to it; the out has to be completed, the catcher has to catch the ball.

Answer 10

This rule was made in the original New York Knicker Bockers baseball club.

"11TH. Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught,

is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound

to run."

Usually the ball would be dropped and land in fair play, thus the rule.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/less...

rule 11

Answer 11

Yeah, whenever there are two strikes, and the hitters swings and misses on a ball that was in the dirt, the strikeout must be either recorded at first or the catcher can tag out the hitter.

And yes, theoritically it could allow 4 "outs".  But if the runner is safe at first, it wouldnt be recorded as an out, but as a strikeout nevertheless.

Someone can have an infinite number of strikeout in a game.

Answer 12

Game 2, 2005 ALCS.

Angels were robbed!

A.J. Pierzynski struck out. Angels catcher Josh Paul legally caught the third strike. The whole world saw it. Pierzynksi pulled a Little League trick when he saw Paul throw the ball into the infield at the presumed end of the inning, and the Ump fell for it.

For this reason, I always tell my little league catchers to ALWAYS throw the ball to first base after a called third strike.... ALWAYS!

Answer 13

On an uncaught third strike with no runner on first base (or with two outs regardless of whether there is a runner on first) 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 53 times since 1901, though at one point nearly forty years passed before this feat was repeated (1916-1956).

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.