NCAA batting out of order?

[ctblu40]

I just finished taking the NCAA preseason rules test online and I'm a little confused now. Here's the question:

QUESTION:
B5 bats in place of the proper batter B4 and grounds out to end the top of the sixth inning. The bottom of the sixth inning is then completed. While the home team is warming up and before the start of the top of the next inning, the home team coach appeals that B5 batted out of turn.

ANSWER:
A. The umpire should not uphold the appeal.
B. The umpire should uphold the appeal.

I answered "A" but was incorrect. Here's the rules link provided as an explaination:

Rule 7: Batting
Section 11-a: When Batter or Batter-Runner Is Out

A batter is out when:

On appeal by the opposing team, the individual fails to bat in the proper turn and another batter completes a time at bat in that place.

(2) If the improper batter becomes a base runner or is put out and an appeal is made to the umpire-in-chief before a pitch to the next batter of either team, or a play or attempted play, the proper batter is declared out and all runners return to bases held before action by the improper batter. However, any advances by a runner(s), (e.g., stolen base, balk, wild pitch, passed ball) while the improper batter is at bat are legal. If the proper batter is declared out, the next person in the lineup shall be the batter.

(3) If a proper appeal is not made, the improper batter becomes the proper batter and the results of the time at bat become official.

(4) When the action of the improper batter becomes official, the batting order resumes with the following batter.

A.R. The umpires, official scorer or public-address announcer shall not call attention to the improper batter. If this occurs, the umpire-in-chief shall warn the official scorer and/or the public-address announcer that on the next infraction the offending person will be removed from the position.

What am I missing here? Since the appeal wasn't made before the next pitch, play or attempted play, why should the umpire uphold the appeal?

[tibear]

Not only did a pitch, play or attempted play take place but an entire half inning!!!

I would say the question is wrong. You can't go back an entire half-inning.

I guess the testers are saying that there was no pitch, play or attempted play during the visitors "at bat" essentially ignoring the home teams at bat.

I would refuse the appeal and call B6 to the plate.

[Dave Hensley]

I agree this must simply be an error on the exam. That's a classic "trick" question on OBR-based exams, because not many remember the "on either team" reference with respect to the "pitch, play or attempted play" requirement. I don't know NCAA rules well, but that phrase "on either team" is right there in the rule you quoted, so the only logical conclusion is that the test is in error.

[RPatrino]

Maybe I mis-read the question, but aren't the players here warming up between innings? As I read the situation: no pitch, play or attempted play has been made by either team. The action of the illegal batter has not been made legal yet.

So, why uphold the appeal? Because it effects the batting order. B4 is called out for the third out and B5 becomes the legal batter and leads off.

Was this too easy or am I missing something obvious?

[greymule]

Was this too easy or am I missing something obvious?

The latter. There was a pitch to the other team. Therefore, the appeal was not proper. It was not made "before a pitch to the next batter of either team."

Save your copy of the test, ctblu40, preferably sealed in acid-free plastic. It may well contain the first known example of an error on a rules test.

[RPatrino]

As I read the question again, I noticed that the question referenced a complete half inning had passed. A trick question.....shame..shame....

[D-Man]

Could ensuring the correct proper batter comes to bat be construed as upholding the appeal? I've got a couple NCAA questions to "contest" but on this one aren't there 3 ways to uphold a BOO appeal?

1. If the IP is not out or on base, replace with PB and assume IP's count.

2. IP is out or on base. BOO is discovered BEFORE the next pitch by either team. PB is out (cancel advnaced caused by IP's actions as a batter). Next batter is the name following PB.

3. After a pitch is thrown by either team, IP becomes legalized. Next batter is the name that follows newly legalized IP.

Can each of these three options be considered accepting (or honoring) the BOO appeal?

just a thought...

D

[greymule]

I have been reading a book, whose author makes liberal use of the colon: is this proper?

Not that use. And get rid of that comma after book, or you'll stay after school!

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by D-Man

Could ensuring the correct proper batter comes to bat be construed as upholding the appeal? I've got a couple NCAA questions to "contest" but on this one aren't there 3 ways to uphold a BOO appeal?

1. If the IP is not out or on base, replace with PB and assume IP's count.

2. IP is out or on base. BOO is discovered BEFORE the next pitch by either team. PB is out (cancel advnaced caused by IP's actions as a batter). Next batter is the name following PB.

3. After a pitch is thrown by either team, IP becomes legalized. Next batter is the name that follows newly legalized IP.

Can each of these three options be considered accepting (or honoring) the BOO appeal?


just a thought...

D

What (or who) is "IP?"