Know the Rules- Part 18

Last week's question:

A delayed dead ball is a game situation where the ball remains alive until the conclusion of a play.  The umpire will stick out their left arm, and then at the conclusion of the play they will rule dead ball and enforce the appropriate ruling.

Can you think of some situations where it comes into play?  Here's a hint...there are 5 of them...

Answer:

1.  An illegal pitch

2.  Catcher's obstruction

3.  Plate umpire interference

4.  Obstruction

5.  Detached equipment contacting a thrown ball, a pitched ball or a fair-batted ball

In all cases, the umpire needs to see what the result of the play is before calling the ball dead (and killing the play)...did either the defence or the offence receive an advantage because of what just went on?  Once the ball is called dead, then a decision can be made on the play.  For example, in the case of obstruction, the obstructed runner may be awarded the base they would have reached had they not been obstructed.  In the case of an illegal pitch, maybe the batter still hit the pitch and got on base, or maybe they didn't swing at all and are awarded a ball (and any runners advance one base).


This week's question:

Here is a situation that came up in the chaos that is community club ball.  2 out.  Runner on 3rd base.  Batter swings and misses at strike 3, but the catcher drops the ball.  Chaos ensues, no one knows what is going on. Then the batter starts to run to first base and the catcher throws to first.  It has taken so long to do this, though, that the runner on 3rd scored before the batter was put out at first.

Does the run count?