Quote:
Originally posted by ChampaignBlue
Assuming slow pitch. Is it legal? Perhaps but if I was behind the plate you'd be getting a 4th out dead ball appeal as the moment ball four was called she ceased being a batter and the short hand rule says that an out occurs when the vacant spot is reached. As to the sportsmanship, nobody says you have to shake hands either.
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Speaking ASA
Nope, that doesn't work. It would take less than three seconds to lose that protest.
I can see it now. Bottom of the 7th, two outs and the home team down by a run and the number 9 player in the batting order which has the 10th spot vacant. A shot to the fence looks like an inside the park home run to tie the game, BUT NO! Since the 9th batter has completed their turn at bat, the out is declared for the vacant spot as the #9 player is rounding 2nd. Game over!
An umpire may not entertain an appeal during a dead ball period until all running assignments have obviously come to a conclusion. This means that if you cannot rule on a play in progress, you certainly cannot rule on the next batter due up.