|
Ok, it's later in the evening, I've had a chance to get a good dinner under my belt and a rule book in front of me. I've had the time to dig around for a rule-based solution to this play- a luxury we don't have when faced with making a call on-the-spot and on the field.
Assumming that this isn't a situation where we get to apply "the God rule", as mcrowder calls it over on the "Look Back/Obstruction" thread, I tried to find specific rules that might apply here.
I first tried to determine the status of B2.
As this sequence begins, the status of B2 is that of a "batter". She is a "batter" until her at-bat is completed. She has not yet been called out, nor has she become a "batter-runner".
Despite walking to the dugout with a 3-2 count, she is still the proper batter and remains as such until she has completed her at-bat.
Until B2 completes her at-bat, what is the status of B3? By definition, she is the "on-deck batter". That is, she is the offensive player whose name follows the name of the batter in the batting order. She does not attain the status of "batter" until B2's at bat is completed.
By a strict reading of the rule and definition, B3 has never become a "batter". Therefore, she cannot be considered as having become an "improper batter".
That shoots down the batting out of order theory.
So what rule fits this situation? How about this: Let's consider B3 as an unreported substitute and an illegal player.
By definition, an illegal player is a player who takes a position in the lineup, either on offense or defense, who does not have a legal right to the position. Seems to fit.
Using the above rulings, the sequence then becomes:
B2 has a count of 3-2. She then leaves the game. B3 checks in as an unreported substitute. As a substitute for a batter whose at-bat has not been completed, she assumes the 3-2 count. Another pitch is thrown. At that point B3 becomes an illegal player. Umpire calls ball 4. B3 heads down to first.
Defensive coach protests. The penalty is that the illegal player is called out and then disqualified.
After the dust settles, we have one out, R1 is on second and the next batter is whomever is substituted for the disqualified B3. If no substitute is available for the disqualified player, then the team may continue playing under the short-handed rule.
And, I hope to God that I'm never so negligent to ever allow this to happen in one of my own games!
***Mike obviously posted his answer while I was typing this one. So much for this "theory"! Jeez, he makes it sound so simple!
[Edited by BretMan on Feb 8th, 2006 at 10:41 PM]
|