ASA Umpire

[Guest Randy Newkirk]

May a batter be walked to get to an automatic out

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[Rich Ives]

Doesn't sound ethical to me but what do I know.

Do you mean the walk to get to the out? Any coach would do it any day. Legit strategy, (Mom in the stands won't like it though ). 

[KenBAZ]

I don't know softball rules but I've had it happen to end a game when a team had a "hole" in their batting order. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[BretMan]

In ASA softball, yes. In some other organizations, no.

[Rich Ives]

In ASA softball, yes. In some other organizations, no.

Never heard of that anywhere. Do they forbid any walk or just the obvious intentional type?

[Aging_Arbiter]

Sounds like a logical strategy move when looking from the outside in.

[KenBAZ]

Some rules allow for compressing the order when a hitter can't take his turn at bat. Others require you take an out there. I thought it wasn't the best sportsmanship but enforced the rule. I've also had times that the defense has asked me "not see" the BOO as the offense skips over an injured players' spot in the order. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Mike Walsh]

Some rules allow for compressing the order when a hitter can't take his turn at bat. Others require you take an out there. I thought it wasn't the best sportsmanship but enforced the rule. I've also had times that the defense has asked me "not see" the BOO as the offense skips over an injured players' spot in the order. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Since BOO is only enforced if the defense appeals, why would they ask you? It would be up to them to "not see it."

Mike

[KenBAZ]

Again, to be fair to the OP, I don't call softball. However, everytime I've had this situation in baseball someone has asked about the rule or notified me that they or the other team has an out with the next batter. I suppose that MY TAB still applies but in some leagues the out is only taken once. If that position in the order comes up again you don't have an out. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Ump29]

Since my area does not have automatic outs, this would not come up.

[gnhbua93]

Doesn't sound ethical to me but what do I know.

[Mike Walsh]

Doesn't sound ethical to me but what do I know.

If you are talking about the defense ignoring the automatic out, there would be nothing unethical. It's just the defense being a good sport, figuring that if the opponent can beat them with only 8 players, they deserve the win. It's just a choice.

Mike

[gnhbua93]

Do you mean the walk to get to the out? Any coach would do it any day. Legit strategy, (Mom in the stands won't like it though ). 

I see your ethics are low as those of a rat. No pun intended just inspired by your profile photo.

[BretMan]

Never heard of that anywhere. Do they forbid any walk or just the obvious intentional type?

One organization that forbids it is NSA slow pitch softball. With two outs they forbid any walk, either intentional or unintentional, to the batter ahead of the automatic out (and by "automatic out" we're talking about a missing spot in the batting order, when a team is playing short-handed with fewer than the the required number of players).

If this batter does receive a walk, the automatic out is waived and the inning continues.

Just like in baseball, there is an alphabet soup of softball sanctioning bodies and they all have their rule quirks. I've also known of some local leagues that added this rule.

Edited November 6, 2015 by BretMan

[Rich Ives]

I see your ethics are low as those of a rat. No pun intended just inspired by your profile photo.

It isn't unethical. It's similar to walking the 8 hitter to pitch to the pitcher, or force a pitching change.  Or walking the bases loaded to set up a force at home. It's a manager's job to seek an advantage. To NOT do to so would be dereliction of duty.

If you were a football coach on defense would you take an offense's penalty or allow long gain?

"Their striker didn't mean it ref - put the red card away".

 

Edited November 6, 2015 by Rich Ives