Situation:

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by w00j44

Nobody on, nobody out. BR after a D3S is not fully aware of the situation but begins to jog to first, failing to drop the bat. Catcher has trouble coming up with the baseball and BR safely crosses first base, with the bat in hand. I searched my rulebook and could find a specific ruling. Rule 9.01c states that the umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules. I think I would call the runner out for disrupting the natural flow of the game but I may be missing something.. thoughts>?

Yes, 9.01(c) "states that the umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules"; however, the reasons that a runner may be out IS COVERED IN THE RULES. Thus, you may not apply 9.01(c) in this instance.