Strike Out/Hit By Pitch? Reds 6-8-08

[Blue37]

I was on the road yesterday and ran across the Reds broadcast. At one point, an opposing batter would have been out on a swinging strike three, but the pitch was not caught and the batter reached first. The announcer was adamant the pitch hit the batter and should have been a dead ball strike-out.

After recovering from my initial shock that the announcer knew the rule, I wondered about his vision. He went on about the call for several innings and was still talking about it when I last heard the broadcast.

He did not mention the pitcher or catcher or manager or anyone else complaining. Was he way off base or did the ball hit the batter? He was especially down on the field umps for not seeing it or doing anything about it. If you are in the field and are 100% sure the ball hit the batter, do you initiate a conversation with the PU or do you wait for him to come to you?