ASA Qeustion #50.

[greymule]

Buddha, the index in this year's sensibly organized rule book tells you to look in Rule 8, Section 7 for umpire interference (FP). You won't find it there, but you will find it in Rule 8, Section 6. Last year's book cited 8-7-F, but it was in 8-6-F. You will find that it's hit and miss with the index and Rule 8.

Look through the section on SP pitching regulations, too. Section 1 tells you to call a dead ball if the pitcher's foot loses contact with the pitcher's plate during the delivery. You are also to rule an illegal pitch and warn the pitcher. Then Section 7 tells you that any violation of Sections 1 through 7 is an illegal pitch, and if the batter swings at it or contacts it, the illegal pitch is nullified and all play stands. So a batter can apparently hit a pitch after you've called the ball dead. But now read the case book, and you'll find, in one example, a rather casual mention concerning the pitcher delivering an illegal pitch before the umpire is able to stop play.

Eventually, and certainly with the help of this board, you'll learn what to do in these situations. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of experience and consultation to fill in the "holes" in the book.

Again, I am not singling out ASA. The MLB rule book, for example, requires several additional books of interpretation.