Ball 4 missed

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Not.

The offense is responsible to know the situation, even if the umpires do not make it an issue. After ball 4, that batter became a batter-runner, and thes at-bat had ended. At the next pitch, it was the wrong batter, therefore batting out of order.

Play is nullified, R1 returns to 2nd. B2's hit is nullified; B3 is out because B2 batted in that spot in the batting order.

Tricky part is what to do with B2. There is no clear rule that makes B2 out, as 8-2.D requires the BR to enter the team area to be considered abandoning the effort to advance. But, I cannot see sending B2 to 1st now, when B2 batted out of order and caused B3 to be out. And, since we know the scorebook must "balance" (unless an unreported BOA occurs), we cannot simply skip B2 without an out or placing on a base.

So, without an true rule support other than 10.1 (ruling on a play not specifically covered), my opinion is to "enhance" 8-2.D and declare B2 out for failing to take the awarded base. Two outs, and R1 back on 2nd.

Even if you choose another option for B2 under 10.1 (as you are justified in doing), you cannot ignore that B2 batted in B3's spot, and the BOA rule must be enforced.

May I point out that 10.3.C states that "the plate umpire may rectify any situation in which the reversal or an umpire's decision or a delayed call by an umpire places a batter-runner, a runner or the defensive team in jeopardy. This correction is not possible after one pitch legal or illegal or after the pitcher....yada, yada, yada".

Could it not be said that the umpire's failure to award 1st (here comes that preventive umpiring thing again) to the batter qualifies here?

After all, if the defense got the batter out, do you think they would have said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Umpire, but you cannot award us that out since the player in jeopardy actually received a fourth ball on the previous pitch and should be returned to active participation on first base"?

What if there were two pitches, does that make a difference? What if they missed a strike instead of a ball and the batter hit into a double play? Can the offense then claim that the batter was actually out on the previous pitch to nullify the defense's effort in retiring two for the price of one?