Batter picking up the ball

[DG]

I think if you deemed the BR actions prevented the defense from making a play to record an out then call him out. It you deem otherwise, don't.

With less than 2 outs, I would call out the runner closest to home who was advancing.

If runners were not advancing seriously and you deem no play to be made then dead ball as soon as it was touched by BR and tell him don't do that anymore.

I had something similar happen this year, one of the two situations that I questioned my interpretation. In my case on deck batter picked up loose ball on a ball 4. R1 went to 2nd and was not trying to advance to 3rd. Defense wanted an out, I did not agree.

[UmpJM]

I concur with DG and bob jenkins.

The defense actually has to be deprived ("hindered") of an opportunity to get an out. If, at the time the knucklehead picked up the ball there was no such opportunity, there is no out to be had.

Not that you couldn't get away with calling one, as chitownvet did.

JM