Dropped 3rd strike

This is a recent change in OBR (MLB). The FED (high school) rule is still that the batter-runner is out 'when he gives up by entering the bench or dugout area' (8-4-1i).

LL is also using the old rule. In most youth I would still rule the old way unless told not to by a league or sactioning body.

Could someone please explain the acceptable runner's paths to 1st once the runner almost gets to the dugout and realizes he can run?

3rd base dugout? 1st base dugout?

Thanks!

When he decides to go, he establishes a direct line path to first. If he goes outside of 3" either way to avoid a tag, he's out

My bad! 3 feet!

That's why the catcher alway's without exception tag the batter/runner.

IMHO - this rule should be changed - I would say once the runner gives up (3 feet outside the basepath) he should be out. Not to change the subject but, could I hit the ball to the fence, run all the way to the dugout (not in it) and then run to first. Maybe so???

You can run anywhere within the confines of the field (avoiding dead-ball territory) and be legal, as long as you were not avoiding a tag during the journey.

Run around the mound 5 times, for all I care, long as you end up at first base

quote:

Originally posted by LonBlue67:
You can run anywhere within the confines of the field (avoiding dead-ball territory) and be legal, as long as you were not avoiding a tag during the journey.

Run around the mound 5 times, for all I care, long as you end up at first base

I thought that was the case but it just seems illogical to me. When I'm the ruler of the world I'm gonna change some of the baseball rulebook.

I do mostly little league and high school ball, so the NFHS rules are the ones I am referring to. In this case, as long as the batter/runner does not give himself up, and that would mean walking into the dugout, removing his helmet, and the like, he can still advance to first base safely. This rule leaves a lot of area for interpretation on the umpire's part. Good luck.

While on this topic, would one of you baseball historians shed some light on the dropped third strike exception. Why are you allowed to run in the first place?

I have always been told that the "uncaught third strike rule is one of the few remaining rules that originated with the New York Knickerbockers' original twenty rules of 1845. It was agreed upon that if the striker (batter) swung and missed at three pitched balls and the third pitched ball was caught on the first bound or on the fly, the batter was out. If it was not caught on the first bound or the fly the batter must attempt to "make his first," or run to first.

Understand that in those days you could catch a fly ball on the first bound as well to record an out also...

Along the way the rules was changed that catching a ball on the bound was not a "catch".... so the 3rd strike had to be caught in flight to record the out...if not, then the runner had the opportuity to attempt to advance to first.....

One thing I didn't know until recently was that on a K, the C gets credit for a putout. So think of it this way: the third strike is like the ball going into play. The at bat is over and the batter runner must either advance or be put out. If the play isn't made by the catcher, the out is not (yet) recorded and the batter runner may try to advance.

From that general rule, you have the rule that the batter is out if first base is occupied with less than two outs. This is an exception adopted to prevent unfair double plays -- that is, without this exception you could have a play where the catcher muffs it on purpose to throw to 2nd, relay to 1st, DP!

Same rationale there as the infield fly rule. Which is why neither the infield fly rule nor the dropped third strike/first base occupied exception apply with two outs. With two outs, you don't have the opportunity for the unfair DP, therefore nothing to protect against.