dropping or tossing the bat.....

[greymule]

Reminds me of a play that happened a few years ago to another ump in our association.

In SP, with a 3-1 count, the batter could see that the pitch would be short, so he dropped the bat and started toward 1B. The bat was lying motionless across the plate, and the pitch hit the bat with the batter already several steps toward 1B.

I don't know how the ump called it, but whatever the call was, one team protested, so somebody sent an inquiry to ASA. Unfortunately, I don't remember how ASA responded. I guess, according to 7-6-D, the batter should be out.