check swing??

[David B]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

zanzibar,

The rules (both FED and OBR) are curiously mute regarding the criteria an umpire should use to judge whether an aborted swing attempt constitutes an offer.

Ultimately, the umpire uses his own judgement to determine whether or not the aborted swing constitutes an "offer".

JM

What coach said is the basic element that the umpire has to use.

In looking at my books there are a few guidelines:

FED - If the batter carreis the barrel of the bat past his body, but final decision is "whether the batter struck at the ball"

NCAA - they list if barrel of bat crosses a) front edge of the plate or b) the batters front hip (of course these don't apply if batter is in front of the box through)

OBR - nothing else

I believe its Evans who added that just because the barrel of the bat breaks the plane of the plate that its to be ruled a strike.

Thanks
David

[kylejt]

The word "offer" keeps popping up. Anyone care to offer a definition of that term?

I've been taught this simple phrase "did he attempt to strike at the pitched ball?"

Using the plate as a gauge doesn't seem logical. The batters size, position in the box, and length of bat shouldn't have any say in this determination.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by kylejt

The word "offer" keeps popping up. Anyone care to offer a definition of that term?

I've been taught this simple phrase "did he attempt to strike at the pitched ball?"

Using the plate as a gauge doesn't seem logical. The batters size, position in the box, and length of bat shouldn't have any say in this determination.

The term "offer" means - did he attempt to strike at the pitched ball? It's just easier to say.

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by kylejt

The word "offer" keeps popping up. Anyone care to offer a definition of that term?

I've been taught this simple phrase "did he attempt to strike at the pitched ball?"

Using the plate as a gauge doesn't seem logical. The batters size, position in the box, and length of bat shouldn't have any say in this determination.

For me, "offer" means they were attempting to make deliberate contact with the ball. An example of non-deliberate would be swinging the bat while twisting out of the way of the pitch.

It's all judgement baby.