Pertinent Rules to this play:
1) Did the Unpire call time suspending play?
5.02
After the umpire calls "Play" the ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until for legal cause, or at the umpire's call of "Time" suspending play, the ball becomes dead. While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to a balk, an overthrow, interference, or a home run or other fair ball hit out of the playing field). Should a ball come partially apart in a game, it is in play until the play is completed.
5.10
The ball becomes dead when an umpire calls "Time.
2) When is hi stime at bat legally completed?
6.04
A batter has legally completed his time at bat when he is put out or becomes a runner.
3) Now for the UNINFORMED here, I present this rule about when a runner is out on 3rd strike:
6.09
The batter becomes a runner when_ (a) He hits a fair ball; (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.
So, step up and admit you were wrong folks. It's right there in the rules of major league baseball.
And furthermore:
APPROVED RULING OF 7.08 (a). APPROVED RULING: When a batter becomes a runner on third strike not caught, and starts for his bench or position, he may advance to first base at any time before he enters the bench. To put him out, the defense must tag him or first base before he touches first base.
9.02
(a) Any umpire's decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final.
Just so we know what we are talking about here.
Regards,
Joe
Regarding that last bit, on the ump's judgment being final, unless I misunderstand, it can be reversed, as I seem to recall in last year's ALCS that the Red Sox had a home run that initially wasn't ruled right but after the crew met up they reversed the call.
At least, I think that's how it went...