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Originally Posted by KJUmp
Disclosure: I don't work FED.
Perhaps the rational is that the rule makers want to assure that the defense has the opportunity to take full advantage of the play to their maximum benefit?
Manny, if I remember correctly, you work some college ball. Is your feeling that the FED rule on this should offer the umpire the option of a DB or DDB call on this play similar to NCAA 11.22.5.2 Effect and 11.22.5.3 Effect?
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No, I don't think there should be an option for the umpire. As soon as the bat affects the defensive player's chance to make a play, the umpire should kill it and rule the batter out.
It's no different than any other situation where a batter interferes. We don't leave the ball live to allow the defense to continue to make plays to their advantage. Once a batter hinders a catcher's throw attempt to retire a base stealer, for example, we don't signal delayed-dead ball in hopes that perhaps the catcher will still get the out.
The delayed-dead ball situation in 11.22.5.3 of the NCAA book is when the batter releases the bat and it endangers a player not making a play or an umpire.