- Jun 22, 2008
- 3,438
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10u. Runner on 3b. Batter believes she just saw ball four, drops the bat and proceeded to first. Coach sends her to 2b, pitcher throws the ball into center field. Run scores. After dust settles, umpire says hold on, that was only 3 balls and runner must go back to 3b. Coaches say run should score because everyone should know the count and it's still a live ball. Umpire agrees. Run scores. In my opinion, it was an honest mistake by the hitter. No bush league trickery and the umpire said he didn't believe it was intentional. Hitter claims umpire said full count before the pitch was thrown. Thoughts?
Umpire was correct in allowing the run. Also correct is that umpires don't, or at least shouldn't, use the term "full count", it is "3 balls, 2 strikes".
There is no rule forbidding the batter from heading toward 1B other than that requiring the batter keep one foot in the box between pitches. Worst case scenario, by rule, is that the umpire rules a strike on the batter, but that would have to occur prior to the runner scoring. That would all depend on how quickly the umpire and defense caught on the to situation being played out in front of them.
I agree that an umpire on the ball and aware it was only ball 3 would have called the batter back immediately.