Case Play 2016-1, The Dropped Third Strike [Solved]

It's never too early for a Case Play and this dropped third strike situation during a lower level game is a great pre-season test.

The Play: With none out, none on, and a two-strike count, the batter attempts to strike a fastball, missing the pitch as it traveled through the strike zone. The catcher, too, misses his catch, as the ball bounces off his glove and into the air, where it strike's the bat as the batter completes his natural backswing. As the deflected ball caroms toward the wall behind home plate, the batter-runner arrives at first base ahead of the catcher's throw.

Question: Using professional rules, what is the call? State what happens to B1 (Is he out or safe? At first base or home plate?) and whether the ball is alive or dead during this odd sequence.

Answer: The batter is out. Explanation: This play is the rarely seen bat-hits-ball element of Backswing/Weak interference, OBR Rule 6.03(a)(3): "He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base." Because this rule may be vague and requires explanation, 6.03(a)(3) Comment elucidates and describes the precise "any other movement" scenario depicted in this Case Play:

If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.

Bold emphasis is mine. To put it all together, the pitched ball, struck at and missed by the batter, bounced into and out of the catcher's glove; this uncaught third strike subsequently was unintentionally hit by the bat as it was in back of the batter and on the backswing; therefore, the call is "strike," the ball is dead, and no advancement occurs. Result: THE BATTER IS OUT.

Note that Rule 6.01(a)(1) Comment ("If the pitched ball deflects off the catcher or umpire and subse- quently touches the batter-runner, it is not considered interfer- ence unless, in the judgment of the umpire, the batter-runner clearly hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball") does not apply to this situation, because the ball did not touch the batter-runner: it touched his bat.

Click through for the video and Case Play specifics:

MLB Ejection S-2 - Joey Amaral (S1; Manny Machado)

HP Umpire Joey Amaral ejected Orioles 3B Manny Machado for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Tigers-Orioles game. With one out and none on, Machado took a 2-2 fastball from Tigers pitcher Shane Greene for a called third strike. Replays are objectively inconclusive as to the precise location of the pitch (pitch f/x unavailable), the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 2-0. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Joey Amaral (-, but wearing Will Little's #93 plate shirt)'s first ejection of Spring Training 2016.
Joey Amaral now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 0 ST + 0 Irrecusable Call = 0).
Crew Chief Chad Fairchild now has 0 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 ST = 0).

This is the second ejection of the 2016 preseason.
This is the 2nd player ejection of Spring Training 2016. Prior to ejection, Machado was 0-3 in the contest.
This is the Orioles' 1st ejection of Spring 2016, T-1st in the Grapefruit League (BAL, NYM 1; Others 0).
This is Manny Machado's first ejection since May 28, 2015 (Toby Basner; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Joey Amaral's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles (Grapefruit League Spring Training), 3/30/16
Video: Machado disagrees with K3 and draws a line in the dirt to show it; gets tossed (BAL, "Read more")

UEFL University - Baseball Video Rulebook Home Page

Welcome to UEFL University, the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's instructional initiative that presents and illustrates the playing rules of baseball. The purpose of this baseball video rulebook is education for key baseball stakeholders: its coaches, players, umpires, and fans.

How to Use UEFL University's Video Rulebook: The Video Rulebook home page features a table with nine images. Click any image to be taken to a page that visually illustrates that principle.

Top Row: Pitched Ball. A pitched ball generally will result in a Ball, Strike, or Batted Ball.

Middle Row: In the Field. A ball put into play will often yield a Safe, Out or an Award/Penalty.

Bottom Row: Extracurriculars. Describes the Playing Field, Ejections, and Instant Replay Review.
Related Post: Ejections - What and Wherefore? Standards for Removal from the Game (3/29/17).

UEFL University - Video Rulebook - Replay Review

The following UEFL video rulebook entry is Replay Review, or reviewable plays via video instant replay review. Replay Review may be initiated in one of two ways: By Manager's Challenge or by Crew Chief Review. Each team receives one Manager's Challenge per game (two challenges during the postseason), which the team retains until they unsuccessfully challenge a play. An umpire can initiate the Crew Chief Review beginning in the 7th inning and only if a team is out of challenges. All reviewable plays, with the exception of possible home run calls and scorekeeping issues, may be requested via Manager's Challenge; home run plays and scorekeeping reviews must be initiated via the Crew Chief and can be reviewed at any point during a game. The following are reviewable plays:

Safe or Out (Timing on Force Play)	Safe or Out (Tag of the Runner)	Safe or Out (Touch of the Base)
Appeal Play (Touching a Base)	Appeal Play (Tagging Up/Timing)	Trail Passing the Preceding Runner
Hit by Pitch, Foul, or Ball (Contact)	Timing Play Regarding the 3rd Out	Scorekeeping Issues (the count, etc.)
Fair or Foul (Non-HR in Outfield)	Catch or Trap of a Batted Ball	Catch and Drop on Transfer or Not
Stadium Boundary and Grounds	Any Potential Home Run	HP Collision or 2B Interference Rule

UEFL University - Baseball Video Rulebook - Ejections

The following UEFL baseball video rulebook entry pertains to ejection, a prescribed penalty for unsporting conduct:
See: Ejections - What and Wherefore? Standards for Removal from the Game (3/29/17)

Leaving one's position to argue balls/strikes, check swings, warnings, or balks is grounds for ejection.	Arguing an earlier call or claiming video contradicts the on-field ruling may result in immediate ejection.	Arguing a Replay Review decision or a call reversed after umpire conference may result in ejection.
Use of histrionic gestures during an argument or in protest of a call is a ground for automatic ejection.	Actions specifically intended to ridicule an umpire (e.g., drawing a line in the dirt) may result in ejection.	Throwing equipment or uniform apparel in disgust over a call, or at an umpire/opponent is ejectable.
Excessive or a refusal to stop arguing after being instructed to, or employing personal, prolonged, profane or lewd conduct is grounds for ejection.	Physical contact with an umpire is cause for ejection. Spitting on, intentionally assaulting, or battering an umpire shall result in immediate ejection.	Failure to comply with an umpire's order to do or refrain from doing something, such as entering the batter's box, is grounds for ejection from the game.
A pitcher may be ejected for possession of an illegal foreign substance on his person while a batter may be removed from the game for illegal equipment, such as corked bat.	Intentionally pitching at the batter is a  dangerous and ejectable offense. A less severe infraction may result in the issuance of warnings that the next occurrence will result in ejections.	Fighting, including charging the mound, shall result in ejection of combatants determined to have instigated or substantively participated in the brawl event.

Introducing the 2016 UEFL Appeals Board

Voting for the 2016 UEFL Appeals Board is now closed and the roster is final. The following is an introduction to the nine-member UEFL Appeals Board for 2016. Throughout the season, the Appeals Board will contribute to challenges, appeals, check swing rulings, and other matters referred to the Board pursuant to procedures specified within the UEFL Rules. Appeals Board decisions and pending cases will be posted throughout the year to the UEFL Portal's 2016 Appeals Board page. The following members were selected to represent the Appeals Board for the 2016 UEFL season:

UEFL University - Video Rulebook - The Field

UEFL's Video Rulebook entry for the baseball field contains a few standard elements: four bases, one of which is an irregular pentagonal plate, which comprise the four points of a square and a pitcher's plate which essentially bisects the line between home plate and second base. There are right and left foul lines running through and between home plate and first and third bases, respectively, batter's and catcher's boxes astride of the home plate area, and a sleek combination of dirt and grass, or astroturf, throughout the playing field.

The art of constructing and maintaining a baseball field for game use is referred to as groundskeeping and a large part of this is conducting measurements in determining that each on-field element is appropriately spaced. The first image to the right, as you can see, only contains infield elements. This is because the outfield has no standard dimensions, other than the minimum requirements, which in the modern era is generally a distance of at least 325 feet from home plate to the outfield wall in fair territory, often increasing to a depth of 400 feet from home plate to the center field fence.

The second image to the right depicts the activity at home plate, the batter's boxes and catcher's box along with dimensions used at the professional level.

UEFL University - Video Rulebook - Awards and Penalties

The following UEFL video rulebook entry pertains to awards and penalties that result from the ball becoming dead or the defense's illegal action.

Base awards may be granted to the offense or other penalties imposed for the following situations:

(SEE BALK RULE) When the pitcher commits any of a series of illegal actions known as a balk (click for a comprehensive list), baserunners are awarded one base.	If the pitcher's pitch to the batter bounces out of play or if a pickoff thrown while the pitcher is in contact with the pitching plate (rubber), baserunners are awarded one base.	A ball generally batted which lodges in a fielder's jersey is dead and umpires award the baserunners one base. If intentional, the award is at two (thrown) or three (batted) bases.
A fielder's throw that leaves the playing field (either by bouncing or on the fly) is a dead ball and two base award. The award is given from the time of pitch if the throw is the first action off a fair batted ball, or from the time of the throw if otherwise.	A fair batted ball that leaves the playing field in flight is a home run. A fair batted ball that leaves the playing field on a bounce or carom is a two-base award unless subject to ground rules particular to the stadium in which the event occurred.	If a fielder throws his glove at or willfully touches a detached part of the uniform/equipment to a live ball, the awards are as follows: one base, if a pitched ball; two bases, if a thrown ball; three bases, if a batted ball.
If during the natural course of a swing, the batter's bat makes contact with the catcher's glove, the catcher is guilty of interference, the ball remains live until play concludes and the offense has the option of awards: one base for batter & all runners or decline the penalty.	Obstruction Type A (Type 1) occurs when the defense illegally impedes the progress of the batter or runner while a play is being made on him. Penalty: Ball is immediately dead and the runner is awarded one additional base from his location at the time of the obstruction.	Obstruction Type B (Type 2) occurs when the defense impedes the progress of the batter or runner while no play is being made on that runner. Penalty: Ball remains alive until the conclusion of play at which time the umpire determines an appropriate award to nullify the act of obstruction.
The catcher may not block the runner's path to home plate without possession of the ball unless he must position himself in front of home plate for the explicit purpose of legitimately fielding a throw on or toward the plate. Penalty: Unlike Obstruction A, the ball remains alive as the run scores.	Umpire interference occurs when: > A fair batted ball makes contact with the umpire before passing an infielder or touching the pitcher. Award: Dead ball, one base (single). > The catcher/plate umpire make contact on a throw. Runner sent back to original base (if out, out stands).	Spectator interference occurs when a fan reaches out of the stands and over the playing field (or goes onto the field) and touches a live ball or interferes with a fielder attempting to field the ball. Penalty: Dead ball, umpire determines award to nullify the violative act of fan interference.