Batting out of order

[Guest MAC]

# 5 batter bats in # 2 spot and gets a BB #3 batter hits a single # 5 is now on 3rd # 4 lines out. 1 out #5 batter is on third.Defensive coach now calls BOO. What to do? Does the plate umpire have any responsibility to call BOO if he recognizes the problem when #5 batted in the # 2 spot?

[noumpere]

The umpires never "announce" BOO its up to the teams to bring it to the umpires attention to get it fixed. In your play the 5 hitter is skipped because hes on base and the 6 hitter bats.

[Guest MAC]

with no penalty?

[Umpire in Chief]

with no penalty?

Correct, the only time a penalty can be enforced is once the improper batter reaches base and before the next pitch.

[Guest MAC]

IF i could take this 1 step further if batter #5 had scored and his turn at bat was up would he be able to bat again without penalty?

[UmpJM]

Guest_MAC,

The only time the offense is penalized for batting out of order is when the defense appeals the BOO immediately following the completion of the improper batter's at bat and before a subsequent pitch or play is made.

In your sitch...

B5 was an improper batter (because he batted in B2's spot).

The first pitch to B3 "legitimized" B5's at bat, so his BOO can no longer be penalized. However, since B5's at bat was legitimized, the proper batter is now B6, and B3 is an improper batter.

The first pitch to B4 "legitimized" B3's at bat, so his BOO cn no longer be penalized. Further, since B4 follows B3 is the batting order, he is the PROPER batter - first one in the entire sitch. Had B4 been an improper batter and the defense had appealed after he lined out, the only difference would have been his line out would have been nullified and replaced by an out being called on the proper batter for failing to bat in his proper turn.

As has been pointed out, though B5 is now the proper batter, since he is on base, his spot is "skipped" and B6 now becomes the proper batter (with no penalty being assessed). Had he scored (or been retired on the bases) B5 would indeed again come to bat because he is the proper batter and not on base when his turn to bat came around.

JM

[Jocko]

This is lengthy. Apologize in advance. Rule 7-1-1-3 & 5 "when an improper batter becomes a runner.... And a legal pitch or illegal pitch has been delivered to the succeeding batter, or an INT BB has occurred, or all infielders have left the diamond if a 1/2 inning is ending, and before an appeal is made, the IMPROPER batter becomes the PROPER batter and the results of his time AB become legal. (5) When the IMPROPER batter becomes the PROPER batter because no appeal is properly made as above, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such legalized improper batter. The instant an improper batter's actions are legalized, the batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter. Note: when several players bat out of order before discovery so that a player's time at bat occurs while he is a runner, such player remains on base, but he is NOT out as a batter." Once #5 became legal, #6 should have followed him. But once #3 became legalized, #4 followed him correctly. #4 lines out and if #5 is not on base, he is the PROPER batter. DC coach completely kicked this one and it's going to be hard to clean up but #5 would bat following #4 because #3 was legalized on the 1st pitch to #4. Make any sense?