The old illegal ball trick ?

[UmpJM]

nickrego,

The situation you describe is a "point not covered" in the rules. Therefore, 9.01(c) is the relevant rule. Since it's a 9.01(c) situation, you can't be wrong.

Personally, I would have ruled differently. I would have nullified the play (and the pitch), put the batter back at the plate with the same count he had, and warned the pitcher that if he were to throw another pitch with an illegal ball he would be ejected.

I would have ruled this way because:

1. As described, the batter was put at a material disadvantage by having an illegal ball pitched to him, in a way that is clearly contrary to the rules.

2. The pitcher had to have known that the ball he was pitching was not "regulation".

The pitcher cheated, plain and simple. He gained an unfair advantage by doing so. I wouldn't allow it to stand.

You ruling wasn't "wrong", but it could have been "better".

JM