In baseball, why does the catcher have to throw the batter out at first base on a third strike when he drops?
414179
It is because the catcher - and not the pitcher - is actually given the credit for the putout when a strikeout occurs. If the catcher drops the ball or the ball gets by him/her, then the catcher must complete the play - tag the runner or throw to first -  to get the putout other wise it is not a put out although the pitcher is credited with a strikeout. A strikeout is not a putout. GO figure.
62626
This may be weak, but here goes.  Bases loaded, batter hits up the middle but three runners run outside the base path? or possibly three runners interfere with the infielders?
1006487
it would take amazingly long time to type up how to play baseball. ill give a short explanation. there is 4 bases in a diamond shape, then an outfield. a pitcher throws the ball trying to get it past the batter and over the home plate (a base) for a strike. 3 strikes and your out. \nthere are 3 outs in one inning. you play nine innings. if you hit the ball, you run up the dirt ob the right to first base. if the ball is cought while the first baseman touches the bag, your out. if you see that you could maybe get to 2nd base, turn and run there. you score by going all the way around the bases and touching home plate. oh, and if you hit a ball over the fence in between the to polls in left and right field, its a home run
567984
Because 1st base to 2nd base to third base is considered a natural progression, and shortstop is the oddball.  Plus, the shortstop wasn't originally stationed between 2nd and 3rd base (he was originally in shallow center field, behind 2nd base).
1139972
These answers are all so ignorant. In a perfect game, not a single person can get on base in any way whatsoever.  Walk, error, hit the catchers glove, whatever. The second anyone gets on base, the perfect game is over, even if he is whiped out by a double play.
576265
first base it a force out because the runner has no other choice but to go to 1st base. 3rd base is a force out if thee are runners on 1st and 2nd bases.
510970
I shall add that an infielder running in the outfield to catch a ball also permits the rule to be invoked.  It's also scored as such if an outfielder drops the ball with less than 2 out, the runner from 3rd scores, and the defense gains a force on another runner (say from 1st going to 2nd).\n\nThere have been times when a runner from 2nd scores on an SF; this usually happens when the outfielder falls asleep, thinking there are 2 outs already.  If the runner hauls a$$ all the way home without stopping, it's an SF.  Usually, if he stops and sees the CF dozing, it's scored as a fielder's choice, an AB, and no RBI (this is from another section in the rulebook on RBIs).\n\nYou -could- possibly score all the way from 1st and have an SF, though I would think the fielder would have to first fall asleep and then, say, injure himself without throwing the ball.  That way, another fielder would have to take several seconds to run and get the ball from him, and the runner could go and go.  That would be an SF... :)
336804
Well, the pitch would be called a strike. I know that much. The batter does not get to go to first base. I'm pretty sure the ball would be dead, just as if it were a foul ball-- but I can't find anything to confirm this. Take a look at the definition of "strike."\n\nEDIT: From 6.08 "APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may advance."
479333
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.\n\nShortstops are required to cover second base in double play situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman, first baseman, pitcher, or catcher. They often cover second when a runner is attempting a stolen base. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the infield as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an outfielder.\n\nTraditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well.
476142
To get the easy out. If they throw it home and they get safe that means the runner is on first and more runs could possibly come in
323370
the runner on third can tag up if the ball is caught, but if the fielder is in foul territory and he drops the ball in foul territory, then its a foul ball, but even if the fielders toe is in fair territory when he drops the ball, then its a fair ball.
1012225
According to rule 10.18:\n(e) An error by a pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in computing earned runs.\n\nTherfore it is an unearned run.\n\nOn the otherhand if a pitcher throws a wild pitch it would be an earned run because it was his fault that a run scored.\n(a) An earned run shall be charged every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder’s choices, bases on balls, hit batters, balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike which permits a batter to reach first base) before fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team. For the purpose of this rule, a defensive interference penalty shall be construed as a fielding chance.\n(1) A wild pitch is solely the pitcher’s fault, and contributes to an earned run just as a base on balls or a balk.
48199
Because if there is a hard hit line drive or grounder they can stop it short before it goes into the outfield.
1017654
EARNED RUNS \n10.18\nAn earned run is a run for which the pitcher is held accountable. In determining earned runs, the inning should be reconstructed without the errors (which include catcher’s interference) and passed balls, and the benefit of the doubt should always be given to the pitcher in determining which bases would have been reached by errorless play. For the purpose of determining earned runs, an intentional base on balls, regardless of the circumstances, shall be construed in exactly the same manner as any other base on balls.\n(a) An earned run shall be charged every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder’s choices, bases on balls, hit batters, balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike which permits a batter to reach first base) before fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team. For the purpose of this rule, a defensive interference penalty shall be construed as a fielding chance.\n(1) A wild pitch is solely the pitcher’s fault, and contributes to an earned run just as a base on balls or a balk.\n(b) No run shall be earned when scored by a runner who reaches first base (1) on a hit or otherwise after his time at bat is prolonged by a muffed foul fly; (2) because of interference or obstruction or (3) because of any fielding error.\n(c) No run shall be earned when scored by a runner whose life is prolonged by an error, if such runner would have been put out by errorless play.\n(d) No run shall be earned when the runner’s advance is aided by an error, a passed ball, or defensive interference or obstruction, if the scorer judges that the run would not have scored without the aid of such misplay.\n(e) An error by a pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in computing earned runs.\n(f) Whenever a fielding error occurs, the pitcher shall be given the benefit of the doubt in determining to which bases any runners would have advanced had the fielding of the defensive team been errorless.\n(g) When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not be charged with any run (earned or unearned) scored by a runner who was on base at the time he entered the game, nor for runs scored by any runner who reaches base on a fielder’s choice which puts out a runner left on base by the preceding pitcher.\nNOTE: It is the intent of this rule to charge each pitcher with the number of runners he put on base, rather than with the individual runners. When a pitcher puts runners on base, and is relieved, he shall be charged with all runs subsequently scored up to and including the number of runners he left on base when he left the game, unless such runners are put out without action by the batter, i.e., caught stealing, picked off base, or called out for interference when a batter-runner does not reach first base on the play. EXCEPTION: see example 7.\nEXAMPLES: (1) P1 walks A and is relieved by P2. B grounds out, sending A to second. C flies out. D singles, scoring A. Charge run to P1.\n(2) P1 walks A and is relieved by P2. B forces A at second. C grounds out, sending B to second. D singles, scoring B. Charge run to P1.\n(3) P1 walks A and is relieved by P2. B singles, sending A to third. C grounds to short, and A is out at home, B going to second. D flies out. E singles, scoring B. Charge run to P1.\n(4) P1 walks A and is relieved by P2. B walks. C flies out. A is picked off second. D doubles, scoring B from first. Charge run to P2.\n(5) P1 walks A and is relieved by P2. P2 walks B and is relieved by P3. C forces A at third. D forces B at third. E hits home run, scoring three runs. Charge one run to P1; one run to P2, one run to P3.\n(6) P1 walks A, and is relieved by P2, P2 walks B. C singles, filling the bases. D forces A at home. E singles, scoring B and C. Charge one run to P1 and one run to P2.\n(7) P1 walks A, and is relieved by P2. P2 allows B to single, b
1084668
on my team it better be the pitcher. Second baseman is on second, catcher is at home. Firstbaseman covers first in case ball is caught and runner could be doubled up.
439106
Each of the three batters hit balls that hit the runners at third base.  That runner is out, each of the others get to move up one base, and the hitters are credited with singles.
678230
because if the pitcher threw the ball level with the batter from the regulated 60ft away the ball would be in the dirt this way it keeps the ball up for better postion of a strike zone