Two strikes on batter and two outs, runners on second and third. Next pitch is in the dirt and batter checks his swing (or did he?). Ball gets away from the catcher. Runner on third breaks for the plate. Catcher recovers the ball, dives towards plate to make the tag, but runner is called safe. The batter never leaves the home plate area except to avoid the incoming runner. He is never tagged nor is a throw made to first base. Time is called by coach of defensive team to ask for a conference with ump on the check swing. Can the field ump now say the batter swung at the pitch? Since time is out, he can't be put out since the ball was not caught cleanly and he was not tagged or a throw made to first and he did not "give up" his right to run by going to the bench area.
Most agree the batter did swing. Fortunately (for the umpires and the team that scored) the field umpire did not rule a swing so this conundrum did not present itself. It easily could have. Your thoughts, opinions, rulings?
Most agree the batter did swing. Fortunately (for the umpires and the team that scored) the field umpire did not rule a swing so this conundrum did not present itself. It easily could have. Your thoughts, opinions, rulings?