Quote:
Originally posted by greymule
According to Bob Mauger, Chief (?) UIC of NJ, any ball that hits the ground before the bat hits it is a "ball," and the swing does not count. In other words, those clinics taught the rule incorrectly.
Therefore, while ASA's wording "swings . . . after the ball hits the ground or plate" may have been clear to the people who knew what they meant when they wrote it, it can easily be misinterpreted by the non-mind-readers among us. Fully precise wording would take some thinking, but better might have been something like, "A batter cannot legally swing at or hit a ball that has hit the ground or plate." The insertion of an example or two wouldn't have been a bad idea, either.
This would also mean that when a batter swings and misses a pitch such that the bat passes the ball after the ball has hit the ground, that swing does not count and we are to call a ball. That one's not going to be easy to sell on a 3-2 pitch, but I must admit I'm eagerly looking forward to making that call.
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You mean like, "Any pitched ball that hits the ground or plate cannot be legally swung at by the batter. If the batter swings at a pitch after the ball hits the ground or plate, it is a ball."
Why is it that your posts concentrated on the last sentance and not the previous one?
People, this is so simple, that I find it hard to believe this discussion is even taking place among folks claiming to be veteran umpires.
You all need to read 7.4 & 7.5 in it's entirety.
BTW, Bob and I have shared time, food and brew, and he is the UIC for the ASA state association of NJ.