Uncaught third strike

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In baseball, an uncaught third strike (also incorrectly known as a dropped third strike) occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch which is the third strike. A pitch is considered uncaught when the ball touches the dirt before being caught, or if the ball is dropped after being grasped (see also catch).

On a uncaught third strike with no runner on first base or with two outs, the batter immediately becomes a runner. The strike is called, but the umpire gives no indication that 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 a 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 [1], 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 "force" situation kicking in (as the batter becomes a runner).


[edit] Controversy

The rule led to controversy in the 2005 American League Championship Series when umpire Doug Eddings made a dropped third strike call which many believed to be unclear. A pitch was caught near the ground; Eddings made two separate signals, seemingly indicating "strike" then "out." The catcher tossed the ball to the mound and ran off the field, thinking there were three outs. However, the batter reached first and was declared safe on an uncaught strike three. Umpires have since developed more consistent ways of signaling caught vs. uncaught strike three pitches.

[edit] Appearance in fiction

The dropped third strike rule is featured in the pilot episode, "Genesis", of the science-fiction television series Quantum Leap. The theme of the series involved correcting mistakes in history, by way of a form of time travel. At the end of the pilot episode, the protagonist strikes out but then achieves an inside-the-park home run because of numerous fielding errors, thus winning the game for his team, which as a result does not finish the season in last place. In the "original" history, the batter had flied out to centerfield.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ DVD, Quantum Leap: The Pilot Episode, released 1998.
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