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Originally Posted by WestMichBlue
You called the pitch a ball - and it is the batter's failure to run? ? ? Are you going to tell the coach to teach his players that anytime they have two strikes and a check swing to run regardless of the PU's call? Is it the player's failure that they listened to you?
WMB
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Exactly right. If I am unsure there was a swing, I am required to call the pitch a ball. The batter needs to know that there can always be an appeal, and if she did swing, the pitch can be changed to a strike. In that case, she needs to do whatever she needs to do; because me doing my job exactly as prescribed is
NOT putting the batter in jeopardy. Her swing puts her in jeopardy, because that is strike three.
That is simply part of the game, it happens all the time on strikes one and two; and if it happens on strike three, oh well, it is still part of the game. The defense is entitled to the proper call if the pitcher created a pitch that enticed the batter to swing; no matter who makes the proper call.
Can you quote me one softball umpire manual in any association that suggests there is a difference in handling a checked swing based on the count? Or, do they all tell you not to guess the swing strike, but go for help when you are uncertain? IMO, you have bought into a baseball philosophy, which is the only place I know where that is preached.