# Baseball Rules Question (Forfeited Games)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [May 27, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903 "2018-05-27T15:48:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903/41 "2018-05-29T17:35:52Z")

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> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#):
>
> In my experience, the batter not arguing balls and strikes is a custom more honored in the breach.

Umps do seem to tolerate a little of it, but what we think we see on TV may not even be that - a hitter can ask where a pitch was, according to the umpire, by way of establishing what will and will not be called a strike further in the game, but that isn’t arguing. Plus, the umps know the fans paid to see the players. A guy who starts screaming and kicking etc. \*will \*get tossed, though.

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903/42 "2018-05-29T18:22:38Z")

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> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#):
>
> I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a batter get tossed just for jawing about an inside strike.

Searching YouTube for “arguing balls and strikes” produces examples.

My general sense is that a short comment will be tolerated, but extended arguing or gesticulation probably won’t be.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903/43 "2018-05-29T21:52:37Z")

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But what if it’s a spectator arguing with the umpire, for purposes of determining whether, as per established protocol, the gentleman ought to kiss his lady friend or the reverse?

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rules-question-forfeited-games/814903/44 "2018-06-19T18:15:44Z")

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> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#):
>
> Let’s say I get called up to the Yankees tomorrow and get the win. My MLB debut is 5/29/18.
> 
> But on June 18, the Yankees are scheduled to resume play against the Senators for a 5/15/18 game. It’s tied at 3. If I come into that game and allow the winning run, I get to be the pitcher of record in a loss, for a date that I was still assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

As it turns out, the Nats called up Juan Soto between 5/15 and yesterday, and he ended up hitting the game winning HR. It will be recorded as if it was hit on 5/15, but it won’t be his first Major League HR, he now has 6.

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