Posted on 04/05/2012 1:25:54 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator
I know the rules of baseball can be arcane and--dare I say it?--Talmudic. But I saw something in today's Braves/Mets opener that I simply don't understand. I've done a web search but come up blank.
It's the bottom of the second. Ike Davis is at bat for the Mets; first base is open. He has two strikes on him. He swings and misses at the third strike, but it barely touches the ground before being caught.
Now as I understand it, this entitled him to run for first base. But he didn't. Instead he informed the umpire that the ball had touched the ground (apparently the ump didn't see that) and, rather than being sent to first base, was given another pitch to swing at (what . . . ?). Ironically, he again struck out on a ball in the dirt and this time was thrown out at first base.
I have never seen this situation before and can't find any reference to it. Are there any baseball fan FReepers who know why this third-strike-not-caught got the batter an extra pitch rather than a chance to reach first base?
Foul tip.
If the catcher catches it before it hits the ground—it’s strike three.
If it hits the ground—foul ball.
Could he have been arguing that he barely tipped it foul instead of it being a clean swing and miss? That’s the only thing I can think of.
Sounds like a foul tip to me.
Cheers
Only thing i can think of is the ump may have thought Davis tipped it. Sounds weird but umps get it wrong a few times a year. I’m sure someone else was watching the game. Santana looked good anyway.
You’re right, had to be a foul tip that hit the ground before the catcher caught it.
Ump called a foul tip. Musta been.
Umps usually go by sound on a foul tip. Did the home plate ump make the call himself or did he ask for help from one of the other umpires?
We all know that in baseball not only do the rules have exceptions, but even the exceptions have exceptions.
I thought you were going to ask Skip’s favorite question. “What’s the infield fly rule?” :)
OT: my favorite Skip Carey hot mike moment was after a young girl sang the National Anthem. It was not pretty. Skip said what everyone was thinking, “My God! That was awful!”
That was Skip. :)
The first two foul balls count as strikes, after that fouls are ignored unless caught.
On a third strike if the ball gets away from the catcher the batter can try to run to first. If he beats the throw to first he is safe and the inning continues even though the batter is officially “out”.
Strike 3 has to be caught by the catcher regardless if it was tipped or not. If it hits the ground the runner can run to first and the catcher will have to throw him out just as if he got a hit.
I hate referring anyone to wiki but it is explained well on this topic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaught_third_strike
I’m with the crew that thinks a foul tip, so the HPU gave it to him. it’s the only way the scenario makes sense that you have described.
How about if first base is occupied? Does the catcher still have to catch a strike for it to be an out.
Well, the official scorekeeper marks that as the batter bing on 1st base via K-e2 (Strikeout, batter reaching first on an error by the catcher).
The batter is credited on his stats with a strikeout (not an Out).
The more serious question is: what were you doing watching the Mets game?
Foul tip.
With less than 2 outs, if 1st base is occupied, the batter is out regardless if the catcher throws to first or not. The baserunner can advance at his own peril.
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