- Apr 8, 2010
- 97
- 0
im having a moment...dropped third strike - if there's a runner on 1st, batter is out, correct? otherwise a good catcher would intentionally drop the 3rd strike and double-up on 1st.
DTS Question
- Thread starter fastpitch5
- Start date
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I've seen a lot of coaches tell the batter to run on a DTS regardless of whether or not the base is occupied. In lower levels of ball, the catcher could throw it away.
That is exactly why this rule was first put into place- well over 100 years ago in the game of baseball! The rules require that strike three be caught by the catcher to retire the batter. It was a common practice for catchers to purposely drop the third strike and turn a cheap double play. Around 1890 the rule was modified so that a clean catch was not required with first base occupied and less than two outs. The earliest rules of softball copied this rule from baseball and it survives today.
With less than two outs, if first base is occupied the batter is automatically out on strike three, catch or no catch. This prevents the defense from gaining extra outs through the deception of purposely dropping the ball.
With less than two outs, if first base is not occupied there are no force plays available on the bases. Purposely dropping a third strike offers the defense no advantage and no opportunity to gain extra outs through deception. So, a catch is still required to retire the batter.
With two outs, purposely dropping the third strike would be, well, stupid. Just catch the ball and the inning is over. There's no advantage gained by dropping it in this case. In fact, dropping it would hurt your own team. Here again, the rules still require the defense to complete the play to retire the batter.
