Cool Opportunity

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by youngump

This isn't really an answer to your question but more of a gripe. As someone who generally thinks that Umpire tests aren't very well structured, I'm not sure I'll be much help. But instead of the cryptic parsing challenges, I'd like to see multiple choice questions like these.
For all ten the choices are
a) Foul b) Do over c) Fair d) dead ball strike
1. The ball is lined off the bat into third base and then bounces into the dugout
2. The batter swings and is hit in the hand with the ball
3. The batter tries to dodge an errant pitch and the ball glances off the bat coming to rest on the plate
4. The batter swings and hits the ball into the foul pole
5. The batter swings and hits the ball; it comes to rest on the foul line
6. The batter swings and hits the ball, it hits between home first and the pitching plate then bounds between first and second and is first touched by a fielder in foul territory.

It'd be an easy test for anybody who knew the rules and a tough one for anybody who didn't. I'd make it no book and expect high scores.

I like those questions a lot. I might like to see a couple of them read more clearly, but the premise is solid, IMO. You could easily add:
7. The batter swings and hits the ball and subsequently drops the bat while running to first. With the bat in fair territory and not moving, the batted ball hits the bat.

8. The batter swings and hits the ball and subsequently drops the bat while running to first. With the bat in foul territory and not moving, the batted ball comes to rest against the bat.

How about this:

For each of the following, the choices are:

A) Dead ball-foul B) Live ball-strike C) Live ball-batter out D) Dead ball-strike

1. On a 2-2 count, the batter swings and the ball goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove where it is caught by the catcher.

2. On a 2-0 count, the batter swings and the ball goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove where it is caught by the catcher.

3. On a 1-2 count, the batter swings and the ball goes sharply and directly to the catcher's mask where it falls to the catcher's glove and is caught by the catcher.

4. On a 1-0 count, the batter swings and makes contact with the pitch. The batted ball rises no higher than the batter's head and then falls where it is then caught by the catcher.