Strike three not dropped. Make the call.

[vdubya]

Is there some particular reason why some plate umpires refuse to call a batter out on a NON-dropped third strike? Is it asking too much for a "strike three" call on a dropped third and a "strike three, the batter is out" on a caught third?

Failure to make the call forces a throw to first and allows a score from third at the younger ages. The catchers don't know that the plate ump saw the caught strike if it isn't verbalized. If the catcher doesn't throw to first, the defense has to wait until the batter reaches first to hear an umpire call her out, or possibly safe. Until then it is just a crap-shoot guessing game. Why can't blue just call the out WHEN THE OUT OCCURS?

I'm leaving open the possibility that I could be wrong on the call, so maybe the umpire corner could set the record straight.

[tcannizzo]

Primary Reason is that umpires are trained NOT to call anything but "Strike Three".
Why? Too many things can go wrong.
Not the least of which is when there is a low strike three that was swung at and, the ball may or may not have skipped into the catcher's mitt. We don't want umpires "guessing". Creates opportunity for a wrong call which would contribute as much or more confusion for teams, players, coaches and parents.

[SoCalASABlue]

The plate umpire is not supposed to verbalize swinging strikes. The plate umpire is supposed to verbalize a non-swinging strike...but contrary to popular belief, the plate umpire is not supposed to be some MLB blue screaming "strike" at the top of his/her lungs. In the case of a strike out, it is typical that the home plate umpire will emphasize the strikeout with some kind of little dance behind the catcher...but whether the third strike is dropped or not, it is not the plate umpire's job to help the catcher decide whether she needs to throw to first or not - that's her teammates' and the coach's job.

[MTR]

Why cannot the coach/players learn the game and how it is to be played?

[vdubya]

Why cannot the coach/players learn the game and how it is to be played?

MFR,
I don't doubt that your version of 'how the game is to be played' is better than everyone's. The question relates to why some umpires won't call an out in this situation. It seems the umpires with less experience fail to make the call most often.

A no-call often invokes the batter's coach or team mate to scream 'run.' At that point the batter breaks for first. Maybe the coach truly thought the ball was picked out of the dirt. Perhaps he knows better but is 'selling' that to the ump. Maybe his philosophy is that 'you aren't out until the umpire calls you out.' Or, it is possible he is simply creating a diversion hoping that he can confuse a nine year old catcher into overthrowing first base and letting 2 runs score. Whatever the case, girls playing the game can hear that at least one person who witnessed a clean catch apparently didn't see it that way. All that matters is how did the umpires see it, and it would certainly be nice if a player is called out when the defense gets her out. A no-call leaves it open to the possibility that the umpire will side with the defense, but also the possibility that he saw it as the offense claims to have. By not calling the batter out, it potentially changes what the players want to do with that live ball in the catcher's hand as the batter is running to first. Thank you for sharing.

[vdubya]

it is not the plate umpire's job to help the catcher decide whether she needs to throw to first or not - that's her teammates' and the coach's job.

The catcher/teammates/coach can make that decision without help. There are options, though, and the decision is based in part on the call. Let the players play and the umpires call, but please call an out an out when an out is made.

[ajaywill]

it is not the plate umpire's job to help the catcher decide whether she needs to throw to first or not - that's her teammates' and the coach's job.

The catcher/teammates/coach can make that decision without help. There are options, though, and the decision is based in part on the call. Let the players play and the umpires call, but please call an out an out when an out is made.

The catcher should know when there has been a strike three - either by hearing the umpire call the strike or by seeing the batter, who is right in front of her, swing and miss.

The catcher should also know whether or not s/he caught the pitch in flight.

Coaches should also teach their catchers when they need to throw to first after not catching a third strike and when they don't need to throw to first.

[MTR]

Is there some particular reason why some plate umpires refuse to call a batter out on a NON-dropped third strike? Is it asking too much for a "strike three" call on a dropped third and a "strike three, the batter is out" on a caught third?

Because it is not part of their mechanics

Failure to make the call forces a throw to first and allows a score from third at the younger ages. The catchers don't know that the plate ump saw the caught strike if it isn't verbalized. If the catcher doesn't throw to first, the defense has to wait until the batter reaches first to hear an umpire call her out, or possibly safe. Until then it is just a crap-shoot guessing game. Why can't blue just call the out WHEN THE OUT OCCURS?

I'm leaving open the possibility that I could be wrong on the call, so maybe the umpire corner could set the record straight.

The umpire DOES make a call, it just isn't the call you want. As directed, the umpire calls "strike". Maybe even "strike three". If a player not eligible to attempt to advance to 1B on an U3K starts that way, the umpire may add "batter's out". All are permissible under the mechanics, some of which have been in use for decades, if not centuries with all the stick and ball games.

Not calling the player forces absolutely nothing. BTW, the parents and uninformed coaches will scream anyway and confuse all players no matter what the umpire says. It is silly enough that MLB & NCAA have the umpire waving their arms like startled pigeons when the catcher fails to receive the ball in flight, and all because a professional catcher got lazy and a smarter batter took advantage of it.

[slapperdad]

Because it is not part of their mechanics.

Add into the mix a runner on first going on the pitch and you have a major ordeal in 12U!

I get both sides of this, and I've been on every side of it, as a player, coach, and umpire. The bottom line is the PU's mechanics are what they are. Your players need to be aware of the situation. Suppose your catcher does make the throw to first and a run scores from third. She needs to learn from that, as a coach you need to learn from that. As has been stated, with less than two outs and first base occupied, it's acceptable for the PU to say, "the batter's out", but I don't recall seeing that mechanic in any manual or being told to do that at any clinic.

[Bretman]

There are those that recommend calling, "Batter out", but not as a routine part of the third strike call. You should only do this if the retired batter begins to run when she is not entitled to.

So it's not "Strike three, batter out!" all at once. It's "Strike three!"...then pause...then "Batter out!" ONLY if the retired batter starts running to first base.