Ball Four?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Leecedar


Hmmm... are you going to tell me that the Player who is running down the line, complete with uniform, helmet and spikes is non-existent? Is there some difficulty with the space/time continuum at the parks in which you've been umpiring?

Whereas, a strikeout with only two strikes is very much non-existent, except in leagues that have "two strikes and you're out" rules.

What the heck... I've been a wisenheimer since I was a kid, so why quit now?

Lee

Of course the runner is non-existent since, by rule, that player is still a batter and not entitled to advance to 1B, not even accidently. The rule book only protects the misguided batter sans runner when it IS a third strike, but they are not entitled to 1B, by rule.

My point is that in both instances, the umpire is required to presume what just happened. You seem to be willing to forgive a catcher who has forgotten the count, but only if the offense is trying to pull a fast one! What do you do if the batter heads toward the dugout after the second strike and the catcher, thinking it is three, whips the ball to 3B? I'm not doing a thing except putting the batter back in the box.