Quote:
Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
Well it lead to last night's problems, didn't it? Let's assume the ball is low, but you know you've caught it. In fact, your glove doesn't even touch the ground. Inning over. Batter runs to first. Umpire, confused, let's the play go on. You're not actually facing the umpire, since you're a catcher. Why should this be your problem? A better bright line rule would be to say that if you leave the batter's box after strike three and aren't on your way to first base, you're out. Removes all uncertainty.
I agree that the catcher should have tagged him. But you seem to be infatuated with the rules as they are currently written. I feel like if the actual rule was the same as the one I just proposed, you'd be arguing just as much for that one.
The rules can be improved. They aren't sacred. Hell, whatever rule the umpire called Cano out on is fucking flawed if it won't allow him to run on the baseline to first base. All I heard was that the call was borderline, which seemed completely ridiculous and makes me think everyone is stupid or the rule makes no sense.
TM
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I'm not infatuated with the rule. But I do think it makes more sense than yours.
First off, the problem was that not only the catcher, but all of the fielders, thought the ump called him out. The catcher rolled the ball to the mound, where the pitcher could easily have picked it up, had he known. They weren't faked out by the runner going to the dugout, they were faked out by the ump. The White Sox figured out first that everyone was mistaken. Oh well.
The problem with your fix is that it will create arguments as to whether he was going to first or going to the dugout in many instances. Most of the time when there's a dropped third strike there's hesitation because the batter doesn't immediately realize it or because they forgot the rule (only with first base open or with two outs). So the natural step is to the dugout. IF it's the first base dugout, how can you be sure where he's going? If his swing follow through carries him away from first, how do you rule?
Could you draw a better rule than the current one? Sure. Why not say the dirt circle around home plate? Put some chalk down, and make it relevant on this play and plays at the plate. That might be better. But I don't think it solves the problem of last night.
