Quote:
Originally posted by Dakota
OK, let's suppose the offense DOES notice the bad call, and lodges an official protest.
Is this a protestable call? (I think so - misapplication of a rule - the batter was not out; it was not a judgment call.)
So, if the protest is upheld, then game resumes later.
What happens? Does the batter get a "do over" or does the umpire then have to try to figure out how the play would have continued? Isn't it better to try to figure that out on the spot?
Making a bad fair/foul call is not protestable. This would seem to me to be protestable.
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As the umpire, having realized my mistake, I would simply explain the error to the coach and tell him/her if they want to file a protest, please do so.
If you want to get to brass tacks, the former batter is out for entering DBT and the defense has lost any possible appeal when the infielders, including the battery leave fair play (leaving the position for the dugout without heading toward an umpire would satisfy this caveat for me).
I agree that an umpire's call should only be "strike three" in whatever style that umpire uses. The term "batter's out" is just as relevent as the term "ball game" or "games over". They really carry no weight when relating to the rules.
During a protest, the argument would probably be made the regardless of the umpire saying "batter's out", the teams should have been aware of the situation and continued with the play. If you want a comparative situation, this is the same reasoning given for not ruling a interference when a batter not permitted runs to first after a dropped third strike with 1B occupied and less than two outs.