Natural Stance

[Don Mueller]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Also, as an umpire I sometimes get fooled by the batter ducking when a high strike comes in, thus making it look like the pitch was high when it in fact wasn't. I've missed a few of these, not sure if there is any way I can correct this.

Easy way to correct:
If a ball is over the plate and the batter ducks, STRIKE.

Works every time

[TussAgee11]

Just like the batter who walks out of the box as soon as the ball is released and its near the outside corner. STRIKE!

[umpduck11]

A crouch is not a "natural" batting stance, IMHO. Other than Pete Rose, I can't remember ever seeing anyone swing from a crouch. And I'm betting you're not him.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by umpduck11

A crouch is not a "natural" batting stance, IMHO. Other than Pete Rose, I can't remember ever seeing anyone swing from a crouch. And I'm betting you're not him.

Rickey Henderson

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Rickey Henderson

You are right. Rickey once told me "Rickey swings from a crouch".

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

How do you guys determine what a batter's natural stance is? The reason I ask is because last year I had an immediate positive turnaround in my batting when I went into a crouch. It helped me get my legs, arms and torso into the swing, rather than it just being all wrists. It also helped me see the ball better and cover the outside corner of the plate.

How can one say that this is not my natural stance? When my batting average goes up immediatly after assuming this stance, it's hard to argue that it's not natural for me. Yet I have had pitches called strikes at my head because of it. What do you guys think?

Also, as an umpire I sometimes get fooled by the batter ducking when a high strike comes in, thus making it look like the pitch was high when it in fact wasn't. I've missed a few of these, not sure if there is any way I can correct this.

I look at your practice swings. If you don't crouch there, then guess what?

[DonInKansas]

So if a batter lies down in the box, we can only call a strike if the ball is rolled to the plate?

Ball/Strike is a judgement call. Swing the bat, Twirly Tornado.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

So if a batter lies down in the box, we can only call a strike if the ball is rolled to the plate?

"Stance", remember?

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I look at your practice swings. If you don't crouch there, then guess what?

You assume warmups always equal to natural motions? Think about this.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by fitump56

You assume warmups always equal to natural motions? Think about this.

Think about this - when a batter steps into the box and does his part of the "dance", 99% of them will be swinging in that plane. For the 1% that decide to crouch when F1 releases, TS on them! By the way, I didn't attain a 398 average in MiLB by changing my swing plane when F1 delivered.

Regards

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Think about this - when a batter steps into the box and does his part of the "dance", 99% of them will be swinging in that plane. For the 1% that decide to crouch when F1 releases, TS on them! By the way, I didn't attain a 398 average in MiLB by changing my swing plane when F1 delivered.

Regards

Maybe you could've hit .400 if you had!

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Think about this - when a batter steps into the box and does his part of the "dance", 99% of them will be swinging in that plane. For the 1% that decide to crouch when F1 releases, TS on them! By the way, I didn't attain a 398 average in MiLB by changing my swing plane when F1 delivered.

Regards

Then the batter should warmup in a crouch, enter the box the same and stay that way the entire time at bat. Can he walk to/fro the dugout erect?

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I look at your practice swings. If you don't crouch there, then guess what?

Then you would call his crouch if he took practice swings in one then came to the plate erect?

[canadaump6]

Well, it seems to me like people are saying a lot of different things on this subject matter. Some are saying they will call based on however the batter swings. Some will assume the same stance for every batter which they deem to be natural and call the high strike based on that stance. .

A lot of different opinions and interpretations. What is the general consensus?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

A lot of different opinions and interpretations. What is the general consensus?

What makes you think there is one?

Here's my take: the further your batting stance is from "normal," the less likely you are to have the rule-book zone applied.