Quote:
Originally posted by BigUmp56
Grandad,
...
(b) The batter shall not leave his position in the batter's box after the pitcher comes to Set Position, or starts his windup.
PENALTY: If the pitcher pitches, the umpire SHALL call ball or strike as the case may be.
Case book:
The batter leaves the batters box at the risk of having a strike delivered and called, unless he requests the umpire to call " Time." The batter is not at liberty to step in and out of the box at will.
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In the original sitch, the batter was clearly out of the box when the pitcher stepped on the rubber. 6.02 (b) cannot apply. I was being overly kind to the umpires when I suggested that this might have been a directed pitch; Grandad may have omitted it, but it doesn't sound like the umpire gave the necessary order (or the customary warning) that 6.02 (c) requires.
Much as it pains me, it appears Smitty had the plate at this game.
-LL