From the fine folks over at USS Mariner.org:

“You know, something’s been bugging me… Olerud should have been out when he was “locked in the video room”. When it’s your turn to bat, you have to bat. Sure, it’s a courtesy or whatever, but it’s in 6.03 of the rules. What’s supposed to happen is that it’s Olerud’s turn, Olerud’s not there, the ump tells the pitcher to go, and every pitch is a strike. Threee pitches and Olerud is out.

Now, it didn’t matter– Olerud got out anyway, but what if that had been the difference in the game? Detroit would have had a perfectly legitimate protest to the league, and (though this would never happen, because they’re lazy) MLB could have upheld it and forfeited the game.

In fact… if they’d played by the rules and Olerud struck out, they might not have gotten him and Aurilia out in time to start the next inning, and then what happens?
posted by DMZ at 1:18 PM”