Quote:
Originally posted by TexBlue
Rule 7-3-E says " After the ball is in play, the batter may not step out of the batter's box to stop play unless time has been granted by the umpire.
EFFECT: All action will continue and the pitch will be called."
Now, we also enforce this as was stated by MCCrowder, I'll probably call a ball on the batter.
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A ball???!!! Why would you call a ball? A ball is in the batter's favor? If a pitch is to be called, it should be a strike that is to the batter's detriment. A warning for unsportsmanlike play is also warranted.
Here are the FED rules (that are not pertinent to this thread, but I would bet ASA has similar rules):
Rule 6-2-4e
No pitch shall be declared when: e. a player, manager or coach calls "Time" or employs any other word or phrase or commits any act, while the ball is live and in play, for the obvious purpose of trying to make the picher commit an illegal pitch.
PENALTY: ... In (e), if the batter tries to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal pitch after the pitchaer has starter her delivery, the ball remains live if the pitcher legally delivers the pitch (see 7-3-1 Effect 2). Also for infraction of (e), see 3-6-8.
Rule 7-3-1
PENALTY: If a pitcher is commited to delivering the pitch, the batter leaves the box at the risk of having a strike called while being out of position.
EFFECT 2: If the pitcher stops or hesitates in her delivery as a result of the batter stepping out of the box or holding up her hand to request time
it shall not be an illegal pitch. However, if ... the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live. If a pitch is not delivered, a rule has been violated by both the batter and the pitcher. The umpire shall call time, declare "no-pitch" and begin play anew. If the umpire judges the batter's action to be a deliberate attempt to create an illegal pitch, the umpire will penalize according to 3-6-8.
Rule 3-6-8
A coach, player, substitue or other bench personnel shall not: call "time" or use any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing an illegal pitch. The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender on that team shall be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game.
Despite my current unfamiliarity with ASA rules (haven't worked any for a few years, but did about 20 years prior to getting that part of my summer back), I'm betting that McCrowder is correct and that the umpire who made this call is chewing on his underwear now... probably never to be invited back to a national tournament. Scerwed the pooch on this one.
DEAD BALL, NO PITCH, RUNNER STAYS ON 3rd.