Brisbee: The dropped-third strike rule is still the worst in sports
From SABR member Grant Brisbee at SB Nation on August 14, 2018:
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Brewers affiliate in the Midwest League, and they’re best known for being the team that made me realize that spoonerisms could be applied to teams, too*. However, they’re now known for winning a baseball game in the absolute dumbest way possible.
With two strikes and two outs, the Burlington Bees’ pitcher threw a pitch that was so nasty, it made the opposing hitter look like an idiot. Which is the goal. It’s the point of baseball if you’re a pitcher, give or take. Use deception to make the other player take a foolish swing.
Baseball is a simple game in which pitchers are supposed to make hitters look like idiots, but there’s a little known by-law that states they can’t make hitters look too idiotic. For if the pitch bounces and the catcher doesn’t complete the play, the runner can reach first base safely. It’s the worst rule in sports.
It’s extremely funny in this case because I’m not invested in either team, but it’s still the worst rule in sports.
Read the full article here: https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2018/8/14/17664924/mlb-news-dropped-third-strike-rule-shohei-ohtani
- Related link: “The Dropped Third Strike: The Life and Times of a Rule,” by Richard Hershberger (Spring 2015 Baseball Research Journal)
Originally published: August 15, 2018. Last Updated: August 15, 2018.