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Originally Posted by just another ref
I'm a little lost. If the ball had been outside, in the other batters box, that is nowhere near the plate either, but if he stands there with the bat stuck out would that be a strike? On a swing, it has to do with whether the bat crossed the plate, as opposed to if the batter "broke his wrists" as many will argue, correct? So, part of my question was, does the bat crossing the plate on the bunt attempt have significance, (I think not) and does it have to be fully retracted, or just on the way back, (obviously not attempting to hit the ball then) or what?
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Where do you get the "if the bat crossed the plate" strike? Its nowhere in my FED rulebook. Do you bring these "myths of baseball rules" to you when you ump games? For a strike to be called, a batter must attempt to hit the ball or the ball must go through the strike zone when over the plate.
It has nothing to do with "breaking the wrists", nothing to do with "crossing the plate". Plain and simple, the batter has to attempt to hit the ball.
On a bunt, the bat does not have to be pulled back. A batter can leave the bat in the strike zone and still have a ball called. To be a stike the ball has to be either in the strike zone, or the batter has to make an attempt to hit it.