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I'm sorry but I can no longer find the original thread for this subject.
Peter posted that during an intentional walk, a batter reached out and swung at an obviously unhittable ball, for the reason, he surmised, to make the pitcher throw more pitches and increase the possibility of a bad throw which would move a runner.
Peter ignored the swing and wouldn't call a strike because there was no intent to hit the ball and because he believes in doing what they do in MLB and he's convinved they would do what he did.
I wasn't sure. So I asked the MLB umpires what they would do.
He's my question and their answer:
> Question from Garth Benham :
>
> During an intentional walk, the batter swings and misses at a pitch that is high and outside and beyond his reach and obviously unhittable
> A member of our group contends that the batter would do so only to make the pitcher throw extra pitches and it should be ignored and no strike called.
> Other members believe that we cannot be mind readers and must call the strike.
> What would a major league umpire do if this were to happen in the majors?
>
Hi Garth,
A swing and a miss is a strike according to the rulebook. If it was felt that a rule was required for the intentions and play such as which you described, it would be in the book. However, it is not, so it is a strike by rule.
Thanks for your question!
World Umpires Association
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