Quote:
Originally posted by bob jenkins
Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Remember, the generating play (and my play) features a batter who gets hit in the customary way in a customary spot. His action looks legal to the average participant/fan. You and I are both experienced enough in the ways of the young to realize that the batter in my game thought he would go to first because he was hit by the pitch. That it was ball four, I'm sure, never entered his mind.
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Please define "customary way" and "customary spot."
As I recall, the batter intentionally got hit (no doubt about it) -- while not unheard of, I wouldn't call it "customary".
And, he was hit while the ball hadn't yet reached the plate -- I don't think that's customary either.
The rule states soemthing to the effect that "A Strike is a pitch that enters the strike zone." I think it's clear that the intent of the rule is to include the phrase "or is prevented from entering the zone by hitting the batter."
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Well, if umpires around the country are going to base their judgment on Bob Jenkins' reading of the subtext, you're better write a book. Officiating.com will publish it. (I know the editor.)
Your argument doesn't hold water. But that doesn't give you the license to demand definitions.
Batters turn into pitches. They get hit on the shoulder. Don't make yourself look worse by pretending you can't see the difference between that play (my play) and someone who calmly, obviously, deliberately, in plain view prevents a pitch in front of the plate from crossing that plate.
An analogy: R1 leaves early on a fly ball and misses second on his way to third. He then discovers the fly ball was caught. He missed second on his way back and is awarded second when the ball is overthrown. The defense appeals: No dice. "Last time by" cured his error.
Same play, but R1 to get back to first simply cuts across the mound, is safe at first, and is awarded third on the overthrow. The defense appeals: R1 is out. He obviously flaunted the rules of baserunning.
(Fitzpatrick for PBUC, Section 4, BRD. See also J/R, page 71.)
A batter who sticks his hand in front of the plate obviously flaunts the rules of batting.
C'mon.
I hadn't realized it before. You're a romantic, someone who wants the rules to say that all's fair, the god of baseball is in his heaven, and all's right with the world.
Lah, me: Deliver me from umpires who want to put their imprint on the game because of what they
think the rules (ought to) mean.