from major league baseball's official rules

[rone]

I've always wondered how the rule that allows batters to run to first after the catcher misses strike 3 is phrased in the rulebook.  I finally dug in and found it.

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6.00 The Batter

6.05
A batter is out when_ [...] (b) A third strike is legally caught by the catcher; "Legally caught" means in the catcher's glove before the ball touches the ground. [...] If smothered against his body or protector, it is a catch provided the ball struck the catcher's glove or hand first.

6.09
The batter becomes a runner when_ [...] (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.

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So, that Escobar pitch that Pierzynski swung through for strike 3, did it hit the ground before Paul caught it?  I won't say what i think.  All i know is that i can't think of a crazier play in baseball in my experience.

Comments

[eagle]

I don't think it did, but I don't think it was anywhere near as clear-cut and obvious as the commentators were claiming it was. It was within an eighth of an inch at least.

Such a bizarre rule.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Baseball has a lot of hinky rules, but this one definitely takes the cake, even over the infield fly rule.

[mskala.livejournal.com]

I rather like the official definition of the shape of home plate, from which it's possible to prove that 2=576/289.