Was it a Strike?

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by archangel

I'm not saying that the pitch needs to be "judged". I'm commenting on the fact that you didnt know if it wouldve been a ball/strike if no swing by batter. Again, how can that be? Why wouldnt one know, since the catcher caught the ball? How hard is that?

What walt is trying to say is that once the batter swings his attention is not to the details of where the ball crossed the plate, or where it was caught - it doesn't matter any more. He's saying that the batter has allowed him to pay attention to other details, like did it touch the bat, did he hit the catcher's mitt...whatever, but where it crossed is not important.

He's not saying he doesn't know what the pitch would have been. He's saying that once the batter swings he no longer concentrates on where the ball is in the zone (or out), so he doesn't make that judgment, he doesn't register "that was a strike" as he would had the better not swung.

When I'm asked, I answer. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a probelm with walt's reply either, or anyone else's for that matter - except the OP reference to an EJ for asking - that's way over the top.