# Four strikeouts in one half-inning **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 15, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043 "2008-06-15T20:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/21 "2008-06-17T14:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] Huh? Not sure what you mean by this. My scorecard says “K” not “1-2.” In what manner is the out given to the catcher? [/QUOTE] The pitcher isn’t credited with an assist on a strikeout, because delivering the pitch is considered an act of pitching, not an act of fielding. The catcher, however, is always credited with the putout, except when he drops the ball and needs to throw to first base. You don’t write the “2” on your scorecard because this is **understood**. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/22 "2008-06-17T16:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] Not that it’s much of a defense, but in cricket, it’s even stupider: the defense needs to specifically request each individual out before the umpire is allowed to call it. [/QUOTE] Not strictly true - in the case that he’s obviously out (ie. bowled) the batsman can start walking away, in which case he will officially be out, whether or not the fielding team appeals (or the umpire rules). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/23 "2008-06-18T18:10:13Z")
Knuckleballers make it feasible. They can throw some weird pitches ,that can fool the batter and the catcher. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/24 "2008-06-19T02:25:49Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] How is dropping a third strike any different from a first baseman dropping the ball on a grounder? In both cases, the fielder needs to catch the ball for the out to count. That’s consistent with any other out in the game (other than rare cases like running out of the basepaths, batting out of order, or a runner being hit by a ball in play)? [/QUOTE] What if there is a runner on first with less than two outs? Then the strikeout is automatic and counts even if the catcher drops the ball. How does that fit into “the ball must be caught” scenario? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/25 "2008-06-19T22:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] I don’t know…it just seems like “Simon Says” to me…I think that the millisecond the third strike is called, it should be an out. [/QUOTE] It would probably please you to know that Little League (ages 12 and under) works exactly this way. But that’s because these catchers can barely catch. They’re more like knock-down-and-retrieve-ers. Over age 13, they start playing real baseball. I umpired a game for 15-16 year olds last week where 2 batters reached base on uncaught 3rd strikes. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/26 "2008-06-19T22:58:35Z")
I think it was Don Sutton who said, after an infielder nearly turned himself inside out trying to get out four via double play, “You can have four outs in an inning, but not on two double plays!” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/27 "2008-06-19T23:31:53Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] It would probably please you to know that Little League (ages 12 and under) works exactly this way. But that’s because these catchers can barely catch. They’re more like knock-down-and-retrieve-ers. Over age 13, they start playing real baseball. I umpired a game for 15-16 year olds last week where 2 batters reached base on uncaught 3rd strikes. [/QUOTE] Oh, yeah, I know; my oldest son’s a Little Leaguer (9 yo)…and it’s a good thing, because it seems like most of the scoring is a result of runners advancing due to pitcher/catcher gaffes. Makes for some long games… ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/28 "2008-06-20T00:37:39Z")
> [@](#): > > What if there is a runner on first with less than two outs? Then the strikeout is automatic and counts even if the catcher drops the ball. > > How does that fit into “the ball must be caught” scenario? Infield fly rule. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/29 "2008-06-20T00:43:01Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Knuckleballers make it feasible. They can throw some weird pitches ,that can fool the batter and the catcher. [/QUOTE] But somehow, Chuck Finley managed to record _three_ four strikeout innings without a knuckleball! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/30 "2008-06-20T01:03:54Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] But somehow, Chuck Finley managed to record _three_ four strikeout innings without a knuckleball! [/QUOTE] Finley was a pitcher who struck out many per game. That’s what you need to set a record. He also pitched to some pretty poor hitters during that time. He didn’t face murderer’s row when he did this. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/31 "2008-06-20T01:27:04Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] Finley was a pitcher who struck out many per game. That’s what you need to set a record. He also pitched to some pretty poor hitters during that time. He didn’t face murderer’s row when he did this. [/QUOTE] Wikipedia points out that Finley’s strikeout pitch was a splitter, so I’m thinking that was the top factor. He managed to have a four-strikeout inning while being caught by Sandy Alomar Jr., who was no slouch as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/32 "2008-06-20T01:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=ZenBeam] Infield fly rule. 😛 [/QUOTE] Actually, that’s an excellent comparison. With a runner on first, a dropped third strike could potentially set up a double-play if the batter was not declared out. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/33 "2008-06-20T02:35:43Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Wikipedia points out that Finley’s strikeout pitch was a splitter, so I’m thinking that was the top factor. He managed to have a four-strikeout inning while being caught by Sandy Alomar Jr., who was no slouch as I recall. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure where you get the Sandy Alomar stuff from. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/34 "2008-06-20T02:58:57Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] I’m not sure where you get the Sandy Alomar stuff from. [/QUOTE] Unless I’ve screwed up, Finley had his last four-K inning with the Indians in 2000, and Alomar was probably the catcher. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/35 "2008-06-20T03:08:12Z")
…Unless the box score shows it was Einar Diaz. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/36 "2008-06-20T03:10:17Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] …Unless the box score shows it was Einar Diaz. [/QUOTE] Good on you, sport. Finley, the next day, allowed as how they had a mix-up in signals. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/37 "2008-06-20T03:11:32Z")
Charlie O’Brien was the catcher the first time Finley fanned four in a frame, and in the second game, it was Bengie Molina. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043/38 "2008-06-20T05:19:28Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Charlie O’Brien was the catcher the first time Finley fanned four in a frame, and in the second game, it was Bengie Molina. [/QUOTE] As a possibly interesting aside, Finley was credited with two wild pitches in that first game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-strikeouts-in-one-half-inning/453043.md?page=1)