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Batter to first. Forced or not?? How about this view of things. Perhaps we should consider the fact that the UMPIRES ARE REQUIRED (FORCED) to determine SAFE or OUT on the batter whenever the batter is ENTITLED to advance to 1B.
In the previously posted situation (I believe Carl's sitch) where there are 2 out and bases loaded and the batter draws a walk, is he forced to go to first? No he could refuse, the PU is then REQUIRED (Forced) to call him out for refusing to advance, run does not score. If his acquiring first base validates R3 scoring the winning run - then the batter might choose to advance rather than face the ire of his teammates and coaches, (spectators, parents, media) So in essence the batter's expectations of long life and happiness might be the motivation that forces him to advance to first base, but the rule book certainly does not.
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Ty
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