Batter swings..hits hands...ball in fair territory

[UmpJM]

illiniwek,

The batter does not ever become a runner on a third strike not caught which hits him - unless his opportunity to hit the pitch was interfered with (obstructed in FED) by a member of the defense. Except in FED, there's a nanosecond somewhere in there where he does become a batter-runner, but it's for so short a period that he doesn't even have time to think about starting to run.

As to your second question, the proper mechanic in this situation is to tell the coach to "Fu*k Off!"

Wait a second. That doesn't really sound very courteous, does it?

Actually, what you want to do is take a step or two forward to clear your sight lines and pivot toward 1B and set for the tag. If your view of the play is still obstructed, you may go to your partner and ask, "Bill, Do you have a tag?" He should counter with something along the lines of "That's a tag!" Upon which, YOU call the runner OUT!

The coach has absolutely no business telling an umpire what call is or is not his or what he can and cannot do. It would be appropriate to inform him of this. Courteously, of course.

JM