Wrong Count
The first 3 pitches to the batter have been called balls. The 4th pitch is also a called ball for ball 4, but after the pitch the plate umpire, in error, announces a wrong count of 3 balls, 1 strike. The pitcher then pitches the 5th pitch to the batter which is a called strike. The plate umpire then announces 3 balls, 2 strikes. By this time the offensive coach says that the 4th pitch was ball 4 and that the batter should be on 1st base. The plate umpire then checks with the base umpire. The base umpire says he also had ball 4 on the 4th pitch. What should the plate umpire do? Back to Quiz
Fix the mistake and award the batter 1st base.
An umpire may correct the count on a batter at any point during the batter's time at bat and before a pitch to the next batter. Rule 1.PLAY
Assume the batter hits the 5th pitch over-the-fence for a home run, instead of taking the called strike. In this case, the umpire can fix the incorrect count by taking the home run off the board and putting the batter on 1st base.
If the base umpire had also lost the count, the plate umpire should then check with the official scorekeeper to get the count.
This might be a good argument for giving the count after every pitch.
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