[rwest]

Originally Posted by Andy

For those of you that work slowpitch, either leagues or tournaments, are you finding the use of the "pitcher's box" becoming more common?

I'm talking about a defined area around the pitcher's plate, usually marked, that the pitcher must start the pitch from. If a ball is hit through this area, it results in some sort of warning and/or penalty to the offensive team.

I am involved with two seperate city SP leagues, in one league, if the ball is hit through the box on the fly within reach of the pitcher, the first occurrance is a warning to both teams, any occurrance after that is an out. The rule only applies if the pitcher is in the box when the ball passes through.

In the other league, any ball hit through the box within reach of the pitcher is an out, whether the pitcher is in the box or not.

I know that this is not part of ASA rules, is it part of any other asscoiation? Is there any talk of introducing some form of the box as a rule change in ASA? If it's used in your neighborhoods, how is the rule worded and enforced?

If you are going to penalize the batter then you have to penalize the pitcher for throwing outside. If a batter has two strikes and they throw outside the batter has to swing or risk being called out on strikes. That outside pitch is often going to go up the middle. So a good pitcher who can hit that corner knows his chances of getting an out have just increased. I understand wanting to protect the players but to dictate where the offense can hit the ball is ridiculous. We already have rules for that. They are called foul lines.