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Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
Al,
Unfair to batter - There is no requirement to hit the strike zone, which means the 5'2" batter has the same "zone" as the 6'6" batter. If you are the latter, you probably don't care. However, if you are the previous, you might have a problem. A pitch can hit the front of the plate, never coming even close to the batter's front knee and it's a strike.
Unfair to the pitcher - A legal 7' pitch can clear the mat even though it is a perfectly good pitch in a legal strike zone and be ruled a ball because it missed the mat. A pitcher is more of a target as s/he must throw the ball down the middle. No curves, no catching the corners, etc.
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Thanks Mike,
Good points! The more I think about what you said the more I think this mat ball takes too much away from the game...both batters and pitchers as you pointed out. ...
Tonight if the field has dried out, and no more rain comes (looks like it might) I will be umpiring for the same two teams that played last Monday where I ejected the head coach of the Bears. Because of all the rainouts this past week it will be his first game since the ejection so I hope I don't have any trouble with him. I wonder if he plans to come over to offer an apology, as he told the administrator he would do if I let him coach the game after the ejection? I wonder if I should just let it go if he doesn't and let him coach anyway? Or would it be better for me not to let it go and remind him that without an apology he must leave the field? ...Anyone want to comment? Must do so within a few hours. Thanks, ... Al