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Originally posted by Dakota
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I also believe there should be a rule that says that time can never expire until the current batter's at-bat has concluded
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I believe that is already the rule, unless time has expired during the bottom of the inning and the home team just scored to go ahead.
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No, not really.
Most leagues that have timed games allow another inning to begin if there is ANY time remaining of the clock at the conclusion of an inning.
So, let's say the home team is at-bat and they're winning. When time expires during their turn at-bat, the game is *immediately* over. The team on defense wants to get this inning over as quick as possible so that they can begin a new inning. So they are rushing. Time could expire at any time, even while a batter is at-bat. The count could be 1-1 and the buzzer could sound. Game over!
I'm saying that once a batter begins his turn at-bat ... it should be completed even if time expires while it is in progress. If there's 20 seconds remaining on the clock, the pitcher might as well relax because time can *not* expire until this batter completes his turn at-bat. And if the batter wants to stand in there and take the pitches until time expires ... that's his perogative. That is a more justified ending to the game than a mad panic on the part of the defense to hurry up and pitch in a desperate attempt to get the 3rd out - so a new inning can begin.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN