Question: "When a batter advances to first base on an third strike where the ball is not cleanly caught by the catcher, did the batter 'strike out' or 'strike safe'?
"Question: "When a batter advances to first base on an third strike where the ball is not cleanly caught by the catcher, did the batter 'strike out' or 'strike safe'?"
I would think that it would be charged as strike out and passed ball would it now?
Usually, it's scored K/E2. The exception would be if the batter swings and misses at what turns out to be a wild pitch. In this case, the play would be scored K/E1.
I'd hate to see baseball going to instant replay except maybe on homeruns. If it did it would be a slippery slope to removing umpires, esp behind the plate, and substitute them with robots.
Wrong... the umpire clearly called him "OUT" by raising his fist in front of his chest. He first called the "STRIKE" by raising his right hand up and then, in a second motion, pulled his hand in front of him, closed his fist and shook it signifying an out. At that point the play is over (or at least should have been).
The correct procedure for a third strike that is not caught by the catcher is to call the strike with your right hand raised, and then make a verbal call "no catch, no catch, no catch"... This is taught to umpires as far down as High School.
So, the bad call (the ball clearly hit the webbing of the mitt and rolled into the pocket - watch the replays, no dirt flew up as it would have if the ball had hit the ground first) was bad enough... but where the umpire really blew it was in his hand signals and in giving no verbal clues. That umpire is going to have fun with the fans in right field at Anaheim Stadim tonight.
You're right on the third strike, but if the umpire calls you out, then you're out and you can't advance. It sure looked to me like the umpire made two distinct the motions: the first to call the third strike, the second to call him out.
It's scored K, E-2, and the man takes the base.
If the umpire calls the batter out, the batter is out.
The problem in a nutshell.
Sorry but that doesn't cut it because even after Angels catcher put the ball on the ground the Angels could still pick in up and toss it to first to to get the out if they know the ball is live still...
If you look an the replay the plate ump gave both the "strike three" AND the "out signal" meaning "dead ball"...
At the very least the plate ump if he contends the ball is still live after Angels catcher put it on the ground needs to indicate to his fellow ump that ball is still in play so THEY (the other umps) could get back in to position to make a call if needed.... the other ump were walking out of position because they also thought the inning was over ( note the White Sox runner didn't have to stop at first he could of rounded the bases)
The kicked is the plate ump walked on to the field between the Angels pitcher and the ball ..and the ump had his back to the ball, the Angels pitcher was the closest Angels player to the live ball the pitcher could pick it up and try to make the play at first...
So why is the plate ump walked in between the player and the ball and the ump is not even looking an the ball (note that if the ump really thought the ball was still live would have stayed out of the potential play and follower what was going on with that live ball on the ground to see if the Angels go get the ball and try to make the play?... after all the play is where ever the live ball is... and the ball was not at first so the play is not at first yet..
So why is the ump not looking at the live ball on the ground but has got his back to it?
Because he knew he call it an out and the ball behind him was dead... then he sees the White Son player ran to first... and then the plate ump for what ever reason called the dead ball live.. that play was total BS