[bkbjones]

Originally posted by SRW
Follow my logic a moment on this hypothetical scenario:

The pitcher is top-ranked, and can throw almost any pitch on a whim. Ump hears the batter say under her breath, *Dear God, don't pitch a strike.* The pitcher throws high and outside, trying to get the batter to chase it. Batter doesn't swing at the obvious ball. Ump calls "Dead Ball - Strike 1"

Offensive Coach requests Time, comes over from the 3rd base coaches box, asking why the ump ruled the dead ball - strike.

Response of the ump: "I'm a deeply religious man, coach. I heard your batter pray to God that the pitch not be a strike. It wasn't a strike. I believe that her prayer prevented the pitch from being a strike. Therefore, in my judgement, the pitched ball was prevented from entering the strike zone by the actions of your batter, so I rules a dead ball strike. Let's play ball, coach."

I have to pray about this one before I give an answer.