Dropped third strike but BR leaves base path

Think of scoring the play correctly 1^st and foremost, and that would be when a batter gets 3 strikes registered on him, the pitcher has to get credit for a strikeout which is a pitcher’s statistic, and the batter is charged with a strikeout because it’s a batter’s statistic, and the catcher gets credit for a putout which is a fielding statistic.

In your situation, the pitcher gets credited with a K, the batter gets charged with a K, and the F3 gets a putout. The batter-runner isn’t out because he left the base path. He’s out because the umpire determined he interfered with the fielder trying to take the throw. That’s different than leaving the base path to avoid a tag.

If the runner was closer to first than home when he was called out, I'd agree with Stats. Since he was outside the white lines and they start halfway up the line, this seems like a reasonable assumpition so score a putout to the first baseman. If he was closer to the catcher, then give the putout to the catcher.

On batter/runner interence, you give the putout to the fielder closest to where the interference was commited.

I thought of that myself until I reread the OP.

Before the play is made by the catcher throwing to first base, the home plate umpire called the batter out for running outside the white lines down to first base.

Since that’s the only place there are white lines(plural) other than the batter’s box, I really didn’t even consider he could be closer to the catcher. Then as I was reading your response, I got to wondering if the player PHYSICALLY closer or the position closest should be given the credit.

So I did what I almost always do in situations like this. I read the book! And when I did that, I saw where 6.05 says the umpire can only call the interference because of the fielder taking the throw was interfered with if its because the runner was outside of the running lane, and 10.09(c)(6) says if there was interference the PO should go to the player the throw was intended for if the interference occurred during a throw.

So I guess this one’s pretty well covered and I was pretty much wrong. If it was because of being outside the running lane, it doesn’t go automatically to F3. It could be any player trying to catch the throw.

OBR 6.05

(k) In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball;

 10.09

(c) The official scorer shall credit automatic putouts as follows (and shall credit no assists on these plays except as specified):

(6) When a runner is called out for having interfered with a fielder, the official scorer shall credit the putout to the fielder with whom the runner interfered, unless the fielder was in the act of throwing the ball when the interference occurred, in which case the official scorer shall credit the putout to the fielder for whom the throw was intended and shall credit an assist to the fielder whose throw was interfered with;

Live and learn!

Thanks for the help - much appreciated! 

Was there a play being made when the umpire called the runner out? If not, I don't understand the call?

If I'm the scorekeeper it will be scored a strikeout no matter what. If the hitter reaches 1B it is still a strikeout, if he is thrown out at 1B by the catcher it is still a strikeout even though the catcher and 1Baseman will be given an assist and a putout, i.e.  K 2-3! Is that correct, "Stats"?

Exactamundo PG!

It seems so easy for us old farts to come up with things like this, but the truth in my case is, I’ve spent a lot of time digging through the rule book to see if I can come up with the correct answer. And when I do, it sure seems like I learn something every time!

One of the problems in scoring comes from using the traditional scoresheet. There just isn’t a lot of room to make notes, and some of the scoring boxes on some of the sheets bought for amateur scoring are downright teeny. For the last 10+ years I’ve used nothing but a Glover’s sheet when I use paper, and its about as big as I’ve seen in a standard sheet you can pick up at sports store.

But when I wrote my scoring program, after a lot of looking around, I made the very big decision to convert from the tradition sheet to the “Project Scoresheet” method. The foundation for that method is that every plate appearance is broken down into 3 distinct parts. The play that finishes the PA, anything that takes place prior to that play, and anything that takes place after that play prior to the next PA.

I couldn’t incorporate that method 100% because of some little glitches, but I got pretty close, and its really been a big help to me when I write the play-by-play after every game. I’ve encouraged a lot of folks to try it, and those that have say they’ll never go back. Unfortunately, what stops it from becoming more widespread isn’t the scorers using it, it’s the people trying to read the sheet like a player, coach, or parent.

So now I'm confused... There is much banter about who did what to whom and when, but I think the answer is pretty simple. I score K 2-3 on put out based on everything that is documented above.

For hitters, bottom line is if you strike out, you struck out no matter what happens after that...