Revised 2nd situation, check swing 4th out.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Patrick Szalapski
Since a check swing appeal AFTER intervening action MUST be entertained (OBR 9.02c note), and since doing so will cause violent disapproval, the umpire should anticipate this situation. When an umpire calls "ball" but does not clearly see a non-swing on a pitch out of the zone and then some ensuing action occurs that would be different had the call been "strike", the umpire should TAKE IT UPON HIMSELF to ask for more information and CALL IT LOUD if it is a strike. Admittedly, that gives the crew a lot to do in a short time, but it prevents a bad image and argument.

Right. But the question is "What to do if the umpire doesn't follow the correct mechanics?" I say grant the strike-out. Others may disagree.

(BTW, Moose's revision is (approximately) how I read the original play. I missed the third-strike not caught aspect.)