Everyone Stopped!

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Assuming this is fastpitch, in this situation, it doesn't matter. Unless the OC has some bizarre preference for having his batter declared out, the end result will be a ball on the batter. Waiting for the clueless to get a clue is a waste of time since it will have no effect on the game.

Why was the BU chagrined? What did he want to happen?

It was FP, and the BU was chagrined because the PU went over to inform the OC that there was an IP and his batter was awarded a ball, essentially ignoring the fact that play was still live and he never killed it.

I guess my question goes back to procedure. Is the lack of any action a justifiable reason to kill play and make the announcement? Or should something have precipitated the dead ball declaration (like ruling the BR out for abandonment) so that the umpire doesn't inadvertently kill it right when someone gets a clue and starts running or starts making the play?

And I don't care for the solution of whispering to the runner that she should take off for first base. I prefer making an announcement that the ball is live so that neither team is given an advantage.