Question
 

Two Balls Two Strikes, ball hits batter in left elbow. PU says its a ball because he "leaned in" to intentionally get struck. I called time and asked for a repeat fo the call and he said same thing. I asked how could he call "ball" when batter was struck (his call, intentional) and that i thought it should be a strike three, batter out. The batter ended up walking and costing us a run. What is the correct call for this if he intentionally leaned in to be struck?

Thanks for an answer for what seems like a no brainer but I cannot find a rule.

If he leaned into the pitch intentionally, and it was in the strike zone, it would be strike three on a dead ball strike. If he intentionally leaned into a pitch that was not in the strike zone, it would be a ball, and the ball would be dead.

If the umpire ruled the batter "leaned" into the pitch, the ball is dead and he calls the pitch a ball or strike depending on the location as he would any other pitch. If it hit the batter's elbow he might have ruled that it was up, thus a ball, or it may have been in, thus a ball. He wouldn't call a strike unless the contact took place in the strike zone.

Uhhhh, Steve, Garth...I think you were supposed to be mean to him, weren't you? Is that not the policy?:D :D

You are absolutely jwwasburn!

Hey FutureUmp, what are you doing arguing balls & strikes? The PU called a ball so leave it at that! If you lost the game, it's because your team didn't get enough runs and that's not the PU's fault!

:D :D How's that jww?

That's better!

make sure you make the call firmly and sternly...because more than likely the offense will argue...especially if you call strike 3...make sure you stand by your call and "sell it".

Although I am sure it was said in jest, I wasn't arguing balls and strikes (never would) but rather the correct call itself, I didn't want the batter to be able to lean into a strike and get away with strike three.

Well, if there are two strikes on him and he leans into a strike, he will get strike three. Why don't you want him to get strike three?

Look in the book - not yellow pages:-)
 

FutureUMP,

From 'the book' (OBR), Section 2 - Definition of Terms

"A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which-
(f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone"

SD

you called time??? i didn't know coaches had that ability in their job description. guess i learned something new today.

See Rule 12.06.(c)(2)
 

As pointed out by CoachJM in another post, this is covered under

"Rule 12.06

(c)(2) During the course of the game ONLY COACHES are allowed to make up rules which have no foundation in the text, official interpretations, or history of the rules. APPROVED RULING: While the umpire may, at his sole discretion, entertain discussion of such made up rules with the coach (strictly for the entertaiment value), there will be NO ENFORCEMENT of any such rules."

:D

No rules were made up by anyone in this sitch, so I don't think 12.06 applies. This sitch is really straightforward, if the pitch was a ball it's a ball, simple as that.
Nice try though.

Hmmmmmmmmmm ........................
 

I see CJN had that humor bypass surgery. :D :D :D




Doug

I think 12.06 should be added to our list of abbreviations for sure. So much better to just say 12.06 then to get all upset over it and start a huge debate. Coach JM: good work. Now, I'll never say that again to a coach :D