[greymule]

So, could you properly eject the player and disallow the score even without declaring the player out, assuming the flagrant misconduct occurred before the score? Dead ball immediately (preventing the score), and ejection. That would work, right?

Not in ASA. You can't have a runner go "poof" as in LL. The runner would have to be out.

ASA is undoubtedly going to clarify and expand on their case book ruling in next year's books. The question about the batter who throws the bat in anger and then the ball goes over the fence appeared on this year's test. ASA umpires who knew the rule book answered that the home run counts but the player is ejected after the play. However, they were unaware that ASA had made a significant rule change without putting it in the book.

Even so, a batter could get a game winning hit and, after the run scores and everybody touches the next base, sucker punch an infielder. Or a runner could score the winning run in the bottom of the 7th and then throw an elbow into F2's teeth. In those cases there's really nothing the umpire can do except make out reports for the league.