D3K

[Martin]

This is great, Judd. Thanks! I've been looking for this over the years and just gave up, I guess. Glad to see somebody took the time to put it online (and somebody here took the time to help me out!).

Now we can get to the afore-mentioned 8 exceptions for leaving the batter's box between pitches:

1. when the ball is batted fair or foul.
2. on a swing, slap or check swing.
3. when forced out of the box by a pitch.
4. on a wild pitch or passed ball.
5. when a play is attempted.
6. when time has been called.
7. when the pitcher leaves the eight-foot pitcher's circle or the catcher leaves the catcher's box.
8. on a three ball count pitch that is a strike but the batter thinks is a ball.

If the batter leaves the batters box and delays play for any other reason the umpire MAY warn the batter OR call a strike (emphasis added). Any number of warnings and called strikes can be made with each batter. No pitch has to be thrown as the ball is dead.

So...

The only reason why a batter could possibly be allowed to leave the box in the above scenario (running to 1B with only 1 or 2 strikes) would be because she swung. I think the intent of exception #2 is clear - the batter may "leave" the box because her swing mechanics took her out of it. The exception isn't meant for the batter to swing, miss and run to 1B.

Likewise, there is no provision for leaving the box after Ball 3 is called (the trick played described in another recent thread).

However...

The rule gives PU the discretion to issue a warning, call a strike or do nothing. So it would seem just about any of the umpire's posts on this would be accurate. It's up to them to determine how to handle the situation.

[wadeintothem]

I think the intent of exception #2 is clear - the batter may "leave" the box because her swing mechanics took her out of it. The exception isn't meant for the batter to swing, miss and run to 1B.

You think wrong.

The wording is clear.

You and sam are reaching deep to invent yourself a rule on this scenario and the other scenario. If there was a rule, you could simply copy and paste a rule or a POE or a clarification that states clearly this is illegal.

Do you guys think you thought this stuff up on your own and no one in ASA has seen it?

The reason you must dream up your very own takes on rules is because this is not illegal. Its pretty simple.

[Sam]

Come on Wade...and you too, Mike,

The absolute clear intent of the rule is to speed up the game....it is in addition to the 10 second rule...another rule intended to keep the game pace going....and you are going to argue that swinging with less than two strikes entitles the batter to run any damn where they would like?????

Wade...POE's are written to address situations that actually happen in games. Personally, I've never seen a batter running to 1B after swinging at a D2K....maybe thats why the situation isn't addressed specifically by rule nor POE.

Mike...the absurdity is actually running to 1B on a D2K.

[Martin]

Even allowing for Wade's literal interpretation of Exception #2, there is no provision for leaving the box on the "oops, I thought I had drawn a walk on Ball 3" play.

[jofus]

Maybe she should run towards 3rd, and really confuse the defense? Or even 2nd, I saw a little 5 year old do that in T-ball once years ago, I bet it would work

Now, I could see a girl swinging at a horrible pitch on a 0-2 count if the pitch was so bad that she thought the catcher couldn't catch it, and hustling down towards 1st, as a good play.

I agree on the running on the 2nd strike (intentionally trying to mess with the defense) as being chickenpoop softball, though