Screwed up BOO - Do you intervene?

[mcrowder]

OK, proper order is #10, #6, #9, #1. #9 is their best, and only really good player.

#10 walks. #9 comes up and hits a home run. #6 comes to the plate and takes a pitch (#9's homer is now legit.) After the pitch, coaches come out to complain. I listened very carefully to their arguments and only responded directly to what they said. ALL of the comments were about #9 being the improper batter. Not once does anyone protest or even mention that #6 is also out of order.

So I left #6 out there - waiting for either offense or defense to mention taht #6 shouldn't be out there, but neither do. I KNOW the offensive coach was aware that she was risking an out here, but saw the opportunity to get #9 to the plate again. Then after #6's out, coaches blow up (it takes my best "Game management" to keep these coaches in the game) as #9 comes up again, and yet again, NO ONE mentions protesting #6.

So #9 came up and hit another homer.

My question - do ANY of you, at any point in this, mention that #6 is wrong, or perhaps even direct #1 to take over #6's at bat after the first pitch? And if so, at what point do you do something... or do you simply do what I did?

[Dakota]

Do what you did. I would not consider helping an opposing coach with when to make a BOO appeal to be preventative umpiring, even though I may anticipate the offense is intentionally cheating to take advanage of a lack of rules knowledge on the defense.

Did you consider USC on the offensive coach for cheating? (Not that I would have done that, either,... just asking.)

[Andy]

I answer the questions asked and address the comments that are presented.

"Coach, you have thrown a pitch to the current batter (#6), you cannot appeal any previous batters at this point."

After #6 bats: "Coach, the last batter was #6, she is followed in the order by #9."

Which is probably close to what you did. To do anything else would be providing one team with an advantage. The coaches have access to the rulebook just like you do. If they can't figure out how to make the proper appeal in this situation, it's not your job to do it for them.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

OK, proper order is #10, #6, #9, #1. #9 is their best, and only really good player.

#10 walks. #9 comes up and hits a home run. #6 comes to the plate and takes a pitch (#9's homer is now legit.) After the pitch, coaches come out to complain. I listened very carefully to their arguments and only responded directly to what they said. ALL of the comments were about #9 being the improper batter. Not once does anyone protest or even mention that #6 is also out of order.

So I left #6 out there - waiting for either offense or defense to mention taht #6 shouldn't be out there, but neither do. I KNOW the offensive coach was aware that she was risking an out here, but saw the opportunity to get #9 to the plate again. Then after #6's out, coaches blow up (it takes my best "Game management" to keep these coaches in the game) as #9 comes up again, and yet again, NO ONE mentions protesting #6.

So #9 came up and hit another homer.

My question - do ANY of you, at any point in this, mention that #6 is wrong, or perhaps even direct #1 to take over #6's at bat after the first pitch? And if so, at what point do you do something... or do you simply do what I did?

I would have told #6 to sit down and put #1 in the box assuming the count.

Even if #6 was mentioned, there is no penalty until #6 finishes their turn at bat. Would have skipped #9 as that batter just completed THEIR turn at bat.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I would have told #6 to sit down and put #1 in the box assuming the count.

By, or just by fairness? If by fairness, where do you draw the line between coaching the defense and making the offense follow the rules?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

By, or just by fairness? If by fairness, where do you draw the line between coaching the defense and making the offense follow the rules?

Preventive umpiring. If the coach has come out to complain about the batting order, even though not that particular batter, I'm not going to sit there and wait for a fustercluck to occur when I can correct the situation especially at a point where there is no penalty. If the defensive coach complains, I'll just let him/her know that they initiated the situation and I just corrected it.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Preventive umpiring. If the coach has come out to complain about the batting order, even though not that particular batter, I'm not going to sit there and wait for a fustercluck to occur when I can correct the situation especially at a point where there is no penalty. If the defensive coach complains, I'll just let him/her know that they initiated the situation and I just corrected it.

I agree you can get away with this, but how do you rationalize the rule book wording that says that BOO is an appeal that must be brought by the defense? How is "filling in" the appeal to cover all appealable BOO violations different from ruling on all missed bases on a play when one is appealed?

I realize the fustercluck can happen, but it is mostly a ruckus of objecting coaches rather than a complicated situation to rule on.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I agree you can get away with this, but how do you rationalize the rule book wording that says that BOO is an appeal that must be brought by the defense? How is "filling in" the appeal to cover all appealable BOO violations different from ruling on all missed bases on a play when one is appealed?

I realize the fustercluck can happen, but it is mostly a ruckus of objecting coaches rather than a complicated situation to rule on.

Preventive umpiring.

Have you ever had a batter step in the box that doesn't look familiar and hear someone say "new batter"? I have always been instructed at any clinic or school where this is raised to simply ask the batter, "are you a sub?"

Preventive umpiring.

The defense did bring a BOO situation to your attention, just that it was late. There is no penalty in this case. If the coach new his/her rules, they wouldn't have come out while the wrong batter was still at the plate.

Preventive umpiring.

When I have a BOO, I bring out my line-up card and walk through the entire scenario with both coaches simultaneously so there is no question. This would have revealed that #6 was the wrong batter anyway.

BTW, did I mention "preventive umpiring"?