[greymule]

This shows why the case book should be more specific and less ambiguous. In 7.1.2 Situation A, "the batting infraction is detected" should read "the batting infraction is called to the umpire's attention." I'm well aware that the mistake is correctable until the batter completes her at bat.

Now more ambiguity: The case book says, "this situation is correctable," but it doesn't say, "the umpire shall correct this situation." When the case book says, "B5 will take the place of B7," it is unclear whether that means "B5 must take the place of B7" or "B5 will take the place of B7 if the situation is to be corrected." Note that rule 7-1-1 says, "When an improper batter's infraction is first discovered, time may be requested and the improper batter replaced by the proper batter who will assume the improper batter's ball and strike count. . . ."

Obviously, if everybody knows the wrong batter is up, the offensive coach will put the right batter up. But whether it is up to the umpire to order the correct batter into the box is an open question.

The book should probably say, "If the BOO is called to the umpire's attention [by any of the various people], the umpire shall direct the proper batter to take her place in the batter's box and assume the count."

As for preventive umpiring, I'm reminded of the time I saw an ump, on a bases-loaded walk that forced across the winning run with two out in the bottom of the seventh, announce, "Coaches, please have your runners touch the next base." Guess he didn't want to deal with an appeal or abandonment of effort.

[Edited by greymule on Feb 9th, 2003 at 10:25 AM]