BREW ANOTHER POT OF COFFEE.

BREW ANOTHER POT OF COFFEE. One of the advantages of watching a baseball game is that you don’t have to pay attention at every moment. There are 162 games in a season, and most fans select what they watch. There is some evidence now that ballplayers and umpires as well don’t always pay close attention. This story tells how a batter for the Angels and the umpire forgot what the ball and strike count was. The batter stayed at the plate after receiving the four balls needed for a base on balls and then struck out. In other words, he struck out on a four-two pitch. Further, Coco Crisp walked earlier in the year after only three balls. What is really remarkable is that in each case there were 24 other players on the disadvantaged team, and coaches, and a manager, and nobody objected. In contract bridge, there is no penalty for a revoke from dummy. Since all of dummy’s cards are face up, all of the players can see a misplay. If there is a revoke from dummy, the appropriate action, it is often said, is to brew another pot of coffee.