How far is to far to give up the base?

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Oct 27, 2015
182
16
Runner on 2nd, there is a dropped third strike. Batter takes 8 steps to her dugout as our catcher throws it over the 1st baseman's head. Runner on second sees it and starts to 3rd. On deck batter tells the batter to run to 1st. Outfielder throws home but not in time. Runs scored and the ump calls the batter safe on 1st. What is the correct call here?
 
May 30, 2011
143
0
There is no set distance, the batter runner can take any crazy path she wants to going to 1B so long as she is not avoiding a tag. What happened in your play was complet legal. The batter runner would however be out if she actually left the field and entered the team area/dugout.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Runner on 2nd, there is a dropped third strike. Batter takes 8 steps to her dugout as our catcher throws it over the 1st baseman's head. Runner on second sees it and starts to 3rd. On deck batter tells the batter to run to 1st. Outfielder throws home but not in time. Runs scored and the ump calls the batter safe on 1st. What is the correct call here?

Good reason to teach your catcher to always tag the batter vs. throwing down to first on a D3S whenever possible.
 
Jun 1, 2015
500
43
Good reason to teach your catcher to always tag the batter vs. throwing down to first on a D3S whenever possible.

Our youth baseball/softball program just switch to having UC3Ks either last year or 2 years ago. We help them out (as umpires) by saying "No Catch, No Catch" if the 3rd strike is dropped and the batter has the potential/need to run. Some catchers are being taught/trained to tag the runner even when they catch the 3rd strike. It puzzles me as an umpire, so when I asked these coaches, they said, "Better to get them in the mindset of tagging them regardless, that way they do it whether it was caught or not to ensure the out."
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Our youth baseball/softball program just switch to having UC3Ks either last year or 2 years ago. We help them out (as umpires) by saying "No Catch, No Catch" if the 3rd strike is dropped and the batter has the potential/need to run. Some catchers are being taught/trained to tag the runner even when they catch the 3rd strike. It puzzles me as an umpire, so when I asked these coaches, they said, "Better to get them in the mindset of tagging them regardless, that way they do it whether it was caught or not to ensure the out."

IMO, wrong all the way around. Announcing the lack of a catch is coaching at a regular level, but not helping them to learn to think for themselves. Same with tagging the offensive player when not necessary. Again, JMHO
 
Mar 15, 2014
191
18
In most codes the batter has until she enters the dugout until she is no longer eligible to advance to first base.
In MLB you will see the umpire give a safe signal if the 3rd strike is not caught while other schools--such as Jim Evan's-- teach for the PU to say, "Strike 3--ball is down" while pointing to the ground.
Another option is to give a safe signal while saying, " No catch! No catch!"
In our HS softball umpire class, which uses USA, we were told to say or do nothing on an uncaught 3rd strike which, BTW, is the correct term as opposed to dropped 3rd strike.
 
Last edited:
Mar 14, 2017
453
43
Michigan
This thought just occurred to me. If the catcher has the d3s in her glove and a right handed batter begins walking toward her 3rd base dug out. Could you reasonable argue she was trying to avoid a tag? Could the catcher say to the umpire I'd like to tag her but she is more the three feet out of my reach. If there is a runner on 3rd you probably don't want to chase the batter to the dug out.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Happened to DD a few years ago and ump called her out when 1st foot hit the dugout. Running to 1st you are also not allowed to retreat towards home so I suppose you could argue that too.

I think if batter is clueless they can do what they want, if it is intentional I would call them out.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
A tag attempt actually has to be made and the runner deviate more than 3' from their basepath in order for them to be called out for being out of the basepath. No, the catcher telling the umpire they would like to tag them but they are more than 3' away doesn't work.

The rule about retreating toward the plate only applies if a tag attempt is being made on the batter/runner. Intentional or not the rule does not allow you to call them out as long as they are withing the rules of the game.
 
Mar 14, 2017
453
43
Michigan
Comp, so if the catcher reached for her as she walked toward the 3b dugout would you consider that avoiding the tag?

I saw this the other night. There was a d3s on an outside pitch with a runner stealing 3b. The batter walked toward the 3b dug out (5 steps maybe) and the catcher threw to 3rd and then the batter remembered she could run. The throw to 3rd was in the dirt and everyone was safe.

The catcher couldn't reach the batter to tag her because she was walking away from first base, and didn't want to allow the runner to have 3rd uncontested. Is that just the breaks?

I'm just trying to think of what to tell a catcher if that happen to us. Advice?
 

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