Foregoing at Bats

[mepetty]

Can an offensive team forfeit or forego its at bats? If yes, whats the rule in either L.L. or Fed rulebook. I was watching a L.L. game. Team 1 killing Team 2, 18-0 in two. Team 1 going on offense coach says we'll take our 3 outs. Team 2 coach agrees, wasn't sure of the rule. I was trying to look it up in both the L.L. and Fed. rule book after the game but can't find it.

[Mr Umpire]

There is no rule. This won't happen in a pro game. It is LL and some coaches don't want to run the score up any more than needed. Not even LL anticipates something like this. The game is not designed for a situation like this so I would go with 9.01(cee) and grant the coach his wish.

3 outs for failure to get in the box. Count them all as strikeouts without throwing 1 pitch. That is how I would handle it.

[Dragon29]

There is no rule. This won't happen in a pro game. It is LL and some coaches don't want to run the score up any more than needed. Not even LL anticipates something like this. The game is not designed for a situation like this so I would go with 9.01(cee) and grant the coach his wish.

3 outs for failure to get in the box. Count them all as strikeouts without throwing 1 pitch. That is how I would handle it.

Yup - Even though there is a rule against it [Rule 4.15 ( b )] in the situation you described, I'd probably go along w/both managers. At higher levels, that attitude will manifest itself by hearing the Manager of the leading team telling his players to swing at everything, no matter where the pitch is. Sometimes, (in LL Jr & above; not in HS) they even purposefuly strike out when they're absolutely killing the other team.

And - before everyone goes all ape-s#!t on me, I know the action described does not voilate the intent of Rule 4.15 ( b )

[mtnump]

Never heard of it. I have had coaches play kids in different positions, bat weak handed, swing no matter what, but never give up their at bat...There is nothing allowing it, can't find anything expressly prohibiting it. The only way I would see to record the outs would be strike-outs following 6.02c, batter refusing to take his place in the batter's box. The difficulty in LL comes in that the players for Team 2 still have to fulfill their requirements of playing in the field for 6 outs and an at bat. Hard to say the kids got to play defense for 6 outs if winning team doesn't take their turn at bat.

If I was Team 2 coach there is no way I agree to this. Sometimes you just get thumped, but you still play the game the way it is supposed to be played.

As an umpire in this situation you gotta feel for the kids on Team 2, but we have all worked games like this. I don't believe I would have allowed this, and may make suggestions as stated above as options to Team 1.

What age group was this?