ASA Question

[AtlUmpSteve]

Yeah, pretty bad wording. I suspect (no, I haven't seen the answer sheet, yet) the desired answer is "c". But, like you, I have issue with the statement. I always reply (smart a$$ that I am) with "No, you can't have 'Time' " when we already have a dead ball; I follow that up with "We already have time, and I don't dance to double time." Here's a case where "Dead Ball" should be called by the base umpire; after all, an obstructed runner cannot be called out between the two bases where obstructed, so proper mechanics have "Dead Ball" called, and the proper base awarded. Do they really want "Dead ball" on top of "Time"??

We don't have enough information to know if "a" is correct; "b" can only be correct if base umpire DOESN'T correctly call "Dead Ball". Surely we aren't to assume additional information.