Think I may have hosed this yesterday...
Left handed batter. Pitch is coming. Batter is moving forward in the box. Batter stretches and reaches well across the plate (hands are above the middle of the plate). Bat is out in front of the plate due to the batter's forward motion. Slightly before the pitch arrives, the batter pulls back the bat. Resultant pitch is low and probably a foot outside. I say "YES! You went." Nobody said a peep.
If questioned, I would have justified my call based upon the stretch of the batter to reach the incoming ball's location (the position of the bat was such that it could have hit the ball). However, immediately after the play, I felt I could have also justified that he didn't attempt to hit the ball because his bat was plainly back before the ball arrived.
This was a men's league and if there is any level where players like to argue calls, I think this it is this level; there was no argument or even a sideways glance. So I guess my call was okay?
Perhaps this is a Had To Be There situation but based upon my attempt at explaining the timing of the play, does anyone have any comments?
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"There are no superstar calls. We don't root for certain teams. We don't cheat. But sometimes we just miss calls." - Joe Crawford
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