To pitch or not
DG,
I assume that since it was "right from the case book" that this is a High School game played under Fed rules.
When the player delays the game, you can charge a strike for every twenty seconds he is doing so - BUT - you need not direct the pitcher to actually throw the ball. Since there is no batter, it makes no sense to have him pitch the ball.
I know some will argue, but I saw a kid do something last year that will make my case. I was the base ump and my partner called a strike on the batter. The batter did not like it and stood onteh plate staring down. He never said a word. My partner asked him to get back in the box. He didn't move. He told him that if he did not get back in the box and get ready to hit, he would ring up a strike for delay of the game. He never moved. His coach yelled for him to move but couldn't talk to him because he had already used his offensive time out; the fans got on him, his teammates got on him. Another strike was called and he was rung up. His coach came down the line and asked him what was going on. He replied that the first pitch was "three balls outside". His coach looked at my partner and said that he couldn't be out because the pitcher didn't throw the pitches. My partner asked if he wanted the pitcher to hit his batter in the back or head. Both said something that got them tossed and the game disintegrated. We left the field only to find the Baseball Director for our state standing there. He said that he saw the whole thing and complimented us on controlling the situation. He agreed, don't penalize the pitcher by making him throw (even light tosses) when the opponent is at fault. Discretion is the name of the game.
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