Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 10/26/2008

Question
I found a small grey area in the major league baseball rules about the dropped third strike. In rule 6.05 (c) "a third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out" which is understandable, but rule 6.09 (b) the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, .... My question is "if a batter swings at a pitch that is not a strike, and misses the ball, but the ball hits the dirt before being caught is the catcher still required to throw to first or is the batter out?" The grey area is in the rule "the third strike CALLED by the umpire." he did not call a third strike, the batter swung at the ball, so a batter could intentionally swing at a bad pitch that will be missed by the catcher to gain first base. This could be compared to the infield fly rule that in infielder could intentionally drop a fly ball to force a double play as the batter could intentionally swing at a bad pitch to become a baserunner.

Answer
Bob,

You are interpreting the rule correctly.  If a batter swings at an amazingly bad pitch, then it would be a strike, even if the ball ended up no where near the plate.  The batter could then run to first if the catcher missed the ball.

I remember seeing this in a major league game about 10 years ago.  I don't remember the player or teams, but I remember that the batter had two strikes on him and that the pitcher tried to waste a pitch outside.  Unfortunately, he really wasted it, the batter made a feeble swing, the ball went to the backstop and the batter ended up on first.

Hope this helps!

Brian