skipping your time at bat

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

... they convinced the home team and the umpires that they would like to forgo their time at bat in the top of the 5th and simply stay in the field to speed up the game. All agreed ...

I guess if the umpire wanted to run it strickly by the rule book, he could have told the Visiting team they would have to take their turn at bat. Then the visitors could:

> take their place in the batter's box and then leave and enter the dugout.
> step from left to right batter's box just as the pitcher was getting ready to deliver.
> take nine delay of game penalties for not entering the batter's box.
> wipe out a whole bunch of lines on the field.
> get on base, leave early, get on base, etc.

But, why?