Quote:
Originally posted by blueskysblue
The line is part of the box, and as long as any part of the foot is touching the line, the foot is in the box (FED, ASA, Little League, American Legion, etc.). That's O.K. for being in the box.
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As Rich and Garth have attempted to point out, this is simply not correct, when speaking of the batter's initial stance in the box. Following are the releveant rule and authoritative citations, for all major codes:
The
pro rule, which is also verbatim the Little League rule:
6.03 - The batter's legal position shall be with both feet within the batter's box.
APPROVED RULING: The lines defining the box are within the batter's box.
Little League's Right Call comment:
Make sure the batter's feet are inside before the pitch.
The PBUC (formerly NAPBL) Manual:
1.9 BATTER'S POSITION IN BATTER'S BOX
The lines defining the batter's box are considered within the batter's box. When the batter assumes his position in the batter's box, he shall have both feet completely within the batter's box; i.e., no part of either foot may extend beyond the lines defining the box when the batter assumes his position. If a batter hits a ball (fair, foul, or foul tip) with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box, he shall be declared out.
The MLB Umpire's Manual:
2.17 BATTER'S POSITION IN BATTER'S BOX
When the batter assumes a batting stance in the batter's box, he shall have both feet entirely within the batter's box; i.e., no part of either foot may extend beyond the outer edge of the lines defining the box when the batter assumes a position in the box. There is no penalty specified for violation other than the batter shall be instructed to stay within the batter's box if brought to the attention of the umpire, or - if blatant or recurring violation - upon immediate direction of the umpire. If a player, after so directed by the umpire, blatantly refuses to comply, he is subject to ejection. See Official Baseball Rule 6.03.
Under Official Baseball Rule 6.06(a), if a batter hits a ball (fair, foul, or foul tip) with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box, he shall be declared out. (See Official Baseball Rule 6.06(a).)
TO CLARIFY. There are two different rules regarding the batter's position in the batter's box. Rule 6.03 requires the batter to have both feet within the batter's box when assuming an initial position in the box prior to hitting (no portion of the foot may be outside the line under this provision, although no penalty is prescribed other than the instructions given above). Rule 6.06(a) provides that the batter be declared out if he hits the ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box. (So long as any part of the foot is touching any part of the line when the batter hits the ball, he is within the rules.)
Evans Professional Interpretation on 6.03:
If a batter's foot is touching any part of a line defining the box at contact, such position shall be considered legal. The umpire should instruct the batter to refrain from touching the plate and line when assuming his initial stance.
Jaksa/Roder comment:
A batter must have the whole of both feet on or within the lines of the batter's box when he assumes his position.
NCAA Rule:
A batter's legal position in the box shall be defined as having both feet completely within the box (lines are part of the box).
NCAA Approved Ruling:
A.R. -Umpires are to enforce this rule as written. If the line of the batter's box has been erased, the umpire shall require that upon the batter's initial stance, both feet are no closer than 6 inches from the inside edge of home plate.
NCAA Penalty: Require the batter to move to a proper position.
FED Rule:
Each player of the team at bat shall become the batter and shall take his position within a batter's box, on either side of home plate, in the order in which his name appears on the lineup card as delivered to the umpire prior to the game (4-1-3).
FED Casebook Comment:
7.3.2 Comment: The lines of the batter's box are within the box. When taking a stance in the box, both of the batter's feet must be completely in the batter's box (not touching the ground outside the batter's box). When making contact with the pitched ball, if the foot is touching the line of the batter's box, it is considered to be in the batter's box even if it is also touching the ground outside the line of the batter's box.