[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If they hustle, I allow exactly what the rule book demands, 3 every inning, first, last and each one in between. If they seem disinterested at any point, I call for the batter and step in to clean the plate. Don't care what they do then, but when a step around behind the plate, I call for the pitch (assuming the batter is in the box and prepared to hit) and if the pitcher isn't ready, it isn't long before it is a ball.

Before anyone jumps on this. let us recognize that Mike is generally talking the slowpitch game, which allows just 3. In fastpitch, we know it is 5.