Did anybody see the dropped strike three call in the Reds game? The Cubs rookie catcher didn't catch the ball and the Reds got to continue hitting in the inning, but the Cubs announcers said the umpires got it wrong because the batter didn't start to first base and had left the dirt area around the batter's box.
While the pitch was certainly in the dirt, the Cubs announcers make a good point. Shouldn't Cairo have been determined to be out when he left the dirt circle?They both are referring to a play which occurred with two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning of the 5/18/11 Cubs-Reds game. With a 0-2 count, Cubs pitcher Matt Garza throws a breaking ball which winds up in the dirt. Reds batter Miguel Cairo attempts to check his swing, but is ruled as having swung by HP Umpire John Hirschbeck. Cairo then begins to retreat to his dugout as the Cubs begin to retreat to theirs. At some point on his way towards his team's first base dugout, Cairo takes off for first base and is ruled safe at first base as the result of a dropped third strike under Rule 6.09(b). Garza would strike out the next batter to end the inning, with no runs given up after the dropped third strike play.
Discussion point: Should Cairo have been ruled out under Rule 6.09(b) Comment? Do the defensive team's actions have any bearing on this ruling? Does the location of the batter's dugout have any affect on this ruling? Posted below are relevant Rule 6.09(b) and its Comment.
6.09 The batter becomes a runner when - (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) fist base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out;
Rule 6.09(b) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.
15 comments :
Lazy mechanics by Hirschbeck here.
He got him on the half-swing but never indicated, mechanically, that the third strike went uncaught.
As such, the batter left the dirt circle heading to his bench. As per the 2007 rule changes, he should've been out at that point.
John's a beauty, but he got this one disastrously wrong.
He abandoned his effort to run to first base by heading back to the dugout. He should have been called out. Regardless of what the defensive team does, he abandoned his effort and is therefore out under 6.09(b) comment. I think the dugout shouted at him and told him to go to first.
Wow! I get that it is often really tough to keep track of everything that is going on... but typically you pay pretty close attention to what the batter does once the third strike is dropped. Frankly, a bit shocking that an elementary rule application like this was botched at this level.
Dude! Too bad this isn't a case play. I'm sure I'd get full points for answering THE BATTER IS OUT for leaving the dirt circle without attempting to get to first before leaving... then again, I'm sure that because the answer is pretty obvious, that's the exact reason it isn't a case play.
I'm not aware of any 'dropped third strike" mechanic.
And if you recall the Doug Eddings incident with the White Sox, the traditional "swing and miss" mechanic of the fist pump is even more confusing.
The 'dropped third strike' mechanic being taught is to indicate a 'safe' motion after the third strike is indicated. I've seen this from Evans' material as well as other training material available.
In this case, had Hirschbeck used this mechanic, he would have pointed and verbalized 'He Went!' and then executed a 'safe' motion with his arms either verbalizing 'No catch!' or 'Balls on the ground' or something to that effect. I've seen variations also use a pointing motion after the safe to indicate the ball is on the ground, however, that's lots of arm motion for this play with limited time.
Of course, it should be noted that previously rule 7.08(a) stated that the runner could advance to first after a dropped third strile "at any time before he enters the bench."
There is a mechanic that is taught to all of us in The Minor Leagues, for that very reason of the Doug Eddings play. It is a "pointed strike" mechanic and held out and left out until a tag or a lack of attempt by the batter/runner (I.E.: Leaving the dirt circle, or on turf, the vicinity of home plate). On a "nut cutter" dropped third strike, the manual says it is acceptable and encouraged to give a safe mechanic several times. To make sure there is no confusion of the dropped third strike, due to umpire error.
What happened in the Reds vs. Cubs game was a combination of a lack of applying a rule, which is a protestable offense... AND THE UMPIRE WOULD HAVE LOST. And a lack of proper mechanics.
Not sure if having the game be played under protest here would have resulted in an upheld protest, because Garza did strike out the next batter resulting in no damage... the Cubs lost this game because of their poor defense. I mean, really really bad defense.
I agree that they should teach a mechanic. At Wendelstedt's 20 years ago I'm pretty sure they taught us not to call attention to it.
But, in hindsight, you really ought to call it just as you would a check swing.
Great service here. I think that this is one of those "well before yes but now no" type plays. By rule, right now, it's an out. No question about it. As to your questions about does the defensive team's actions matter... the answer is no. We're looking at the offensive player, not the defense. As for does the offensive team's dugout location matter... the answer is a qualified yes. If he's a lefty, he strikes out, and exits the dirt circle toward the 3B dugout, he's obviously out. If he's a lefty, strikes out, and exits the dirt circle toward the 1B dugout, it's a little less cut & dry IMHO. I would wager that a team is at a marked advantage by having the 1B dugout in this specific situation.
@Anonymous MiLB guy - I'm guessing you're young in this game since you chose to call out a potential protest in the big leagues. Fix it now. Don't post if you can't do it properly with the role you are in.
Here's the difference between this play and the Eddings fiasco of 2005... Hirschbeck would never sit up in a postgame press conference to proclaim how his screw up is attributed to his "consistent strike three mechanic," even when video evidence shows he hadn't been using said "consistent strike three mechanic" for the same calls the entire game...
Guy's out as soon as he leaves dirt circle with no apparent attempt to run to first. Next question, please!
Perhaps, in the umpire's judgment, the batter was aware of his situation regarding the dropped third strike. According to the comment on the rule, the batter has to be unaware of his situation AND leave the dirt circle without running to first base. Both elements must be present in order for the batter to be out. Maybe Cairo knew what was going on, and was simply trying to get the Cubs to do exactly what they did: give up on the play and leave the field.
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