What is it called?

by Bill
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA)

Bill asked: What is it called when a batter strikes out but the catcher drops the ball.

The batter then runs to first. The catcher over throws the first baseman.

Then because of several throwing errors the runner scores.

No other batter has yet to bat. Happened in an under 12 game.


Rick answered: Bill, thank you for your question.

That must have been quite an event.

When the batter strikes out, and the catcher drops the ball, one of two things can happen.

1. Catcher picks up the ball, throws to first where the first baseman catches the throw, batter is then out, or he is able to tag the batter with the ball, which is then an out:Or 2) Catcher picks up the ball, throws it over the first baseman's head, runner is safe (that is what you had happen)At that point there is an error on the catcher. It was also an error on the catcher, when he dropped the third strike, and allowed the batter to reach first base.

Each additional over throw is it's own error, and eventually the batter-runner scores.

The run is credited to the team at bat, the batter-runner gets credited in the box score with a run scored. Becomes an unearned run for the pitcher.

A nightmare for the official scorer.


Yours in baseball,

Rick