why is the dropped thrid strike rule enforced in baseball/softball?
552220
The rule's purpose is to ensure that at least one defensive player fields the ball cleanly in order for that team to record an out. Because each team is alloted only 27 outs per regulation game, it is not enough that the offensive player is unsuccessful in order for an out to be made; a defensive player must make the play.
579613
There is no rule in MLB that says it is a strike. However it is common sense that a ball put in play is a strike. On an official pitch count there must be a determination of ball or strike for every pitched ball.  Thus a ball put in play is considered a strike.  Hope this helps!
327634
What? Never heard that rule. I was of the understanding that if the ball hit the top of the wall/fence and went out, it was a home run. I guess there could be a different rule for softball.
678230
because if the pitcher threw the ball level with the batter from the regulated 60ft away the ball would be in the dirt this way it keeps the ball up for better postion of a strike zone
363081
the folks who said they're checking for scuff marks are correct.  Players don't mind if THEIR pitcher uses a scuffed ball, but they don't want the other team's pitcher to have that opportunity. So if the ball is scuffed, they'll toss it into the stands when the inning is over so that the umpire will be forced to supply a clean ball for the team coming up to bat.
262812
When you play baseball outdoors, the rules of the sport that you use (high school, college, pro, etc) govern, along with any local league rules that may or may not take precedence over the "official" rules.  You also have ground rules that apply to each individual park, such as how to treat the front of the dugout (live or dead), whether you can throw from the dugout (college rules make this a ground rule), and so on.\n\nPlaying indoors is basically the same, though you may have to add some more ground rules.  For example, if you play in the Metrodome in Minnesota... what if the ball hits a speaker above fair or foul ground?  What if the ball goes through a hole in the fabric protecting the roof?  These aren't covered in the rules, so Major League baseball had to come up with something (the speakers are live; pretend the ball didn't hit them... and it's a double if the ball stays in the ceiling)... :)
1102425
Hey great question.....!!!!. I never knew that the rules had ever been different, but you are right they were. It seems that  before 1931 or so, the American League deemed that balls that were hit out fair but wrapped around or hit the foul pole were indeed considered "ground rule doubles", where in the National League the hit was ruled a Home Run. According to one source, Babe Ruth was robbed of about 75 home runs becuase of this rule.\n\nThanks I learned something today, at least it helps me in making my agrument of who really is the greatest homerun hitter of all time. If all those double had been ruled homeruns then Ruth would have held 789.
990982
Baseball, also know as "hardball" is where the game is played with a smaller ball, and the pitcher throws the ball overhand.  The second difference, and ofter forgotten, is that the base runners can leave the base to steal at any time they choose.  Also, "leading off", or standing off the base is allowed.\n\nSoftball uses a ball with a larger diameter, and the pitcher throws the ball underhand.  \n\nThere are 2 types of pitching styles allowed in softball.  First, "Fastpitch" softball allows the pitcher to wind their arm over up and over their head and pitch the ball in straight line.  Speed is the focus on pitching.  The strike zone is the same in baseball, which is throwing the ball over the plate, above the batters knees, and below their elbows.  As for base running, the runner must stand on the bag until the pitcher releases the ball towards home plate.\n\nThe second is "Slowpitch", where the pitcher throws the ball underhand,  up in the air towards the batter, and must reach an arc between 9 to 12 feet.  Different then "fast pitch", a strike is called when the ball "falls" and hits the plate, and a 1 foot extension on the back of the plate.  \n\nFor base-running in "slowpitch", a runner can not leave their base until  the ball crosses the plate.\n\nLastly, in Professional Baseball, you have 9 innings.  In Softball, you only have 7 innings.\n\nI also think in baseball you can do a lot more spitting :)
489162
because it is the only sport where everything done as humanly possible. What I mean is there is no mechanical, digital, video, etc. that can determine/change and outcome. Humans are the only factors. Was it fair or foul...that's up to the umpire, and if he's not sure he asks another umpire for his OPINION. Time, HA, there is no time limit to the game the game ends when there is a winner after the bottom half of an inning after the ninth inning. Instant replay...only for the fans. There is no instant replay to determine if he was safe or out or if the fan interfered on the field of play or any of that. That is also left to the discretion of the umpires. And they do make mistakes and the crowd will know because of the huge replay screens at the ballparks. The players make mistakes too. I don't know of any professional baseball player who's career fielding percentage is 1.000. Pitchers make mistakes too there called homeruns. Batters mistakes are called strike-outs. I love the humanity of baseball, that and I am a damn good ball player, too.
1012225
According to rule 10.18:\n(e) An error by a pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in computing earned runs.\n\nTherfore it is an unearned run.\n\nOn the otherhand if a pitcher throws a wild pitch it would be an earned run because it was his fault that a run scored.\n(a) An earned run shall be charged every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder’s choices, bases on balls, hit batters, balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike which permits a batter to reach first base) before fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team. For the purpose of this rule, a defensive interference penalty shall be construed as a fielding chance.\n(1) A wild pitch is solely the pitcher’s fault, and contributes to an earned run just as a base on balls or a balk.
1046136
After any out with no one on base, the infielders throw the ball around. On a strikeout, the catcher has the ball, so he throws to the third baseman. On a ground out, the first baseman throws to another infielder before the ball goes to the pitcher. They don't do this with men on base, because the runners could advance on a bad throw or they could just steal.
336475
Hello,\n\nSoftball Rules Simplified   \n\nTHE GAME\n\nThere are 9 players on a softball team. \nThe playing field is divided into the infield and outfield \nThe lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield \nOutside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. \nAny ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out) \nAn official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat) \n\n\nPITCHING\n\nThe pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. \nThe ball must be thrown underhand. \nBoth hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. \n\n\nBATTING\n\nBatters must follow the same order throughout the whole game \nThe batter is out if and when: \na) three strikes have been called\n\nb) a fly ball is caught\n\nc) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box\n\n\nBASE RUNNING\n\nRunners must touch each base in order \nRunners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. \nRunners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitcher’s hand \nAfter a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base \nOne base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. \nStealing a base is not permitted \nA runner is out if: \na. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base\n\nb. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner\n\nc. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged\n\n\nTERMS:\n\nBall- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk) \nGrounder- A ball that is hit on the ground \nForce out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner. \nFly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nOn deck- the next batter \nPop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nStrike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all. \nStrike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees  \n\nSreekar.
692380
The plate appearance counts but the base doesn't.  the play counts the same as if the fielder did not committ the error.  So if a hitter reaches base via error, their OB% will go down.
1167626
One theory holds that "S" was already being used for or could be confused with a single, stolen base, sacrifice fly or sacrifice hit (bunt), second base, or even SS for shortstop. \n\nBut that prob'ly aint it at all. And some people do use SO for strike out The most common scoring system used today, and the one you'll find in your program, with it's diamond diagram and the positions numbered 1 for pitcher, 2 for catcher, 3 for 1st base, etc. was, according to the folks at Cooperstown, invented by one Henry Chadwick in 1874. \n\nApparently Mr Chadwick was just impressed with the harsh sound of the K in the word strike. Though I hardly ever hear that k sound from an umpire, most of them just sound like they are saying "Ssstryyyyyy!" or even just "Ryyyyyyyye!" \n\nSome people just put one K in the diamond for a strike out , some use Kc or a backwards K for a called third strike. Others put each strike in the diamond with an F for a foul strike. Some even keep a record of each pitch and where it crossed or didn't cross the plate, usually that is kept in a separate area for the pitchers stats and then compared later to the batters stats if ya wanta get that involved. They use a FK for foul strike and F for fouls after the 2nd strike. \n\nThat is way too fouled up for me. In fact I am one of those who gets fouled up by the 3 for 1st base, when I do try to score a game I use letters and numbers for the positions, 1 is firstbaseman, Cf center field, Ph pinchhitter. \n\nBut anyway that trying to keep a record of each pitch, or at least each strike, in the tiny diamond, some claim is the main evidence for another theory, the first strike was a vertical line "I", the second was the top angle line, the third the bottom angle.\n\nMaybe Old Chadwick just liked the K sound in his own name and used it, who Knows? K passa? 'K? \n\nThere kould be other theories but there is little evidence to support the theory that there are sekret Klan Konklaves goin on out there under the skoreboard.
240183
Here you go taken straight from the MLB rule book (Rule 10.04 Runs Batted In).\n\nRUNS BATTED IN \n10.04\n(a) Credit the batter with a run batted in for every run which reaches home base because of the batter's safe hit, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, infield out or fielder's choice; or which is forced over the plate by reason of the batter becoming a runner with the bases full (on a base on balls, or an award of first base for being touched by a pitched ball, or for interference or obstruction).\n\n(b) Do not credit a run batted in when the batter grounds into a force double play or a reverse force double play. \n\nSee the link below for the full details.
371840
I disagree with everyone, you cannot take a pitcher out ANY time you want. You can only take them out after they have finished pitching to one player. The ONLY exception is if the pitcher gets injured and must be taken out. In that case, the new pitcher inherits the count that the replaced pitcher left with.\n\nIt's the same way with batting. You can't inherit a 3 ball 0 strike count and replace him with a hitter who will mash the next pitch (99% of the time a fastball) over the fence.
1176101
For a pitcher, the spitball and any of its variants; also, trying to quick-pitch to the batter is illegal, and faking a throw while on the mound is a balk, which allows the runners to advance a base.\n\nBasically, impeding the other side from doing their job.  In other words, if you're running and you get in the way of somebody trying to make a play, that's illegal; if you are  playing defense, you can't stop a runner from trying to get to a base.