Baseball rules

[LennG]

He strikes out. The swing supersedes the HBP.
But this question makes me ask....since the ball hit the dirt prior to the swing does the catcher have to tag the batter out? You know what I'm asking? The whole dropped third strike set of rules.

Yes he does, if 1st base is unoccupied or if there are 2 outs.

As long as the batter swings at a pitch, as you said, it takes president over being stuck by the pitched ball. I've had quite a few instances where a batter will square around to try and bunt and then the ball comes right in on him and hits him. If he offered at the pitch, regardless if he got hit, it is a strike and a sure argument from coaches who just don't know the rules.

[Sem]

I thought that was probably the case.

I've actually seen the swing and HBP scenario a few times in MLB over the years, so that question was a bit easy.

[LennG]

Stay tuned, I'll try something a bit harder tomorrow.

[LennG]

This is not a rules question but a most unusual 1/2 an inning that anyone will ever see.
Two of the best teams in NYC are playing each other. James Monroe from the Bronx is playing Richmond Hill at Richmond Hill's field. It was a great game with Monroe leading 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th.
Leadoff batter gets a hit. Next batter doubles scoring 1. They change the pitcher. He strikes out the next batter. 1 out. Next batter strikes out but the ball gets away from the catcher. Instead of just throwing to 1st for the easy 2nd out, he tries to get the guy who was on 2nd, going to 3rd but was way late
 Now you have 1st and 3rd, 1 out. The runner on 1st steals 2nd as they didn't want to risk the other runner scoring.
The pitcher strikes out the next batter, 2 out. They intentionally walk the next batter as he is the best hitter on the team
 Based loafed, 2 out and the pitcher gets 2 quick strikes on the next batter. He then throws a great curve, in the dirt which the batter swings and misses. The cat her runs out and goes basically half way up the line to just throw the batter out at 1st. But he short armed the ball on what should have been just an easy toss and the ball bounced 2 feet in front of the ,1st baseman and bounced away, scoring the tying run. I'm standing there in disbelief. The pitcher then struck out the following batter.
What makes this interesting is that the pitcher struck out 5 guys in the inning and the team scored 2,runs.
BTW we played 10 and Richmond Hill won.

[Sem]

That is most bizarre Len. Baseball is such an amazing sport. You can watch for decades and then one day see something you've never seen before.

I guess I've never thought about it before but, in theory, a pitcher can have an infinite number of strikeouts in an inning.

[LennG]

 Man on 1st. 1st baseman calls time goes to talk to the pitcher. he secretly takes the ball and goes back to 1st. Pitcher goes back to the mound but doesn't go on the rubber. Man leads off 1st and is tagged out. Is this legal???

[Sem]

I think it's legal as long as the pitcher doesn't step on the rubber.  Pitcher can't step on the rubber without the ball.

*edit - or is it the pitcher can't step on the mound without the ball. Crap, now I'm not sure.
I'll say he can't step on the rubber without the ball. Legal play. (No way am I certain though).

[GIANTS1]

i am going to say illegal because they actually made a play while time was out.

[Sem]

i am going to say illegal because they actually made a play while time was out.

Is time automatically out every time a pitcher throws over to first and the runner gets back safely? I don't know about that. I always thought time is never out unless a player requests time, or the ball goes into a dead zone, or obviously between innings.

[GIANTS1]

Len said he called time out.

[GIANTS1]

I guess I'm saying they exchanged ball while time was out.

[Sem]

i am going to say illegal because they actually made a play while time was out.

Yes. It would help if I'd read it closer. 

I would agree then. Not a legal play.

[LennG]

You are both now correct.
Once time has been called, in order to continue play or just put the ball in play, the pitcher has to go back on the runner and the umpire indicate the ball is now in play.

Since that never happened it is illegal. You can never do the hidden ball trick once time has been called.