The Illegal Batter

Every once in a while the situation occurs where the opposing team puts the wrong batter out. Often when you or another teammate notices, they or you start hollering at the umpire. When an illegal batter gets to the plate, this is the best outcome for the OTHER team.

Why?

If you notice that the batter is out of turn, and you tell the umpire, the correct batter will assume the count and come up to bat. Because the illegally batted spot is still up to bat, there are no further penalties. So how can you make their blunder pay off for you?

Wait. Let the batter bat. Regardless of the outcome of that at bat, and before the pitcher pitches the next pitch to the next batter, appeal the batter. The result of this is that the batter is out, all runners return to the base they were on before the at bat, and the proper batter comes to the plate.

How do you catch this? There are two ways to be diligent in getting these outs: 1) Even as a player, check every batter as they come to the plate. You can get a wrist sleeve much like quarterbacks use and keep the opposing lineup card in there. 2) you have a hand signal from your scorekeeper on the sidelines that signals the illegal batter; make sure to check every at bat.

This is one small difference in handling an appeal play that can make a huge difference in an inning.

for Slopitch Coaching 101
Bradley Holbrook