Perhaps I'm assuming too much here. I, as the plate umpire, have called or announced strike 2. The batter takes off to the dugout. None of the exceptions in 7.3.1 have occured. I now have strike 3.
Incidently, I have not called a delay of game strike since the words, "delays the game" were added to 7.3.1 Penalty, but a couple of times a year I am questioned by coaches who are looking for a cheap strike as to whether the batter is delaying the game.
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"Not all heroes have time to pose for sculptors...some still have papers to grade."
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