Quote:
Originally posted by bob jenkins
Quote:
Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
If the pitcher encroaches on the batter's area... that's a poor pitch and the batter gets first if he is hit.
This is for High School and and up. At lesser levels, there is no telling where the pitch will go so now the pitcher's responsibility goes up - I'm more likely to award 1st.
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This concept is the NCAA rule and one of the proposed FED rules changes for last year
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Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe NCAA once took that position within written rule, but soon after changed back to requiring attempt to avoid. They found too many batters were all too willing to take the pitch to the body without any avoidance attempt in order to receive the award. The latest copy of NCAA that I have (2003) states:
If the batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball and the pitch is out of the strike zone, the pitch shall be called a ball. The ball is dead, no runners may advance and the batter is not awarded first base.
Have they once again changed their rule????
I'll agree that collegiate umpires will typically provide any benefit of doubt to the batter, thus providing awards to most batters. Still, NCAA rule (as OBR) provides the official the backing to keep the batter in the box if he judges no attempt to avoid the pitch was made.
Just my opinion,
Freix