Batter avoid bad pitch.

[David B]

Originally posted by Bartman
Say umps,
What is your interpretation of avoiding being hit by a pitch, I had a batter turn his inside shoulder in toward the plate and was hit by the ball. He made no attempt to vacate out of the batting box. Batters feet never moved either. The coach said that is the way they are training the kids.

The bottom line is intent. If I think the batter tried to get hit by leaning, sticking an arm out, etc., I call it.

Simply turning into the pitch is not a reason to leave the batter in the box.

If I'm the batter I'm not going to stand there and get hit in the face with the ball.

That is correct baseball training.

But I know intent when I see it. If its a curve ball I might give the batter more leeway, but I'm also not going to reward the pitcher for a bad pitch.

Thanks
David