Quote:
Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
Quote:
ASA 7.4 A STRIKE IS CALLED BY THE UMPIRE.
C. For each legally pitched ball swung at and missed by the batter
|
Granted, the grammar is weak, but there is the rule which MAY justify Tap's call. It specifically states the batter must swing at the ball. To me, that means s/he must be attempting to hit the ball.
Try calling a strike when the batter lets the bat drop in front of them while the ball passes them and see what type of argument you lose there 
|
If we are going to be that specific about "swing at", it means that the bat
must hit the ball or otherwise the batter did not swing
at the ball but
at some air molecule or mosquito or something. That means there can never be a swinging strike unless the ball is hit foul or foul tipped.