Fed. HBP

[ManInBlue]

There are several coaches around here that hve done a good job training their kids to "take one for the team" - it is usually quite obvious when the batter has decided to get hit. I've seen several that freeze on the slow breaking curve ball - you know that one where he had time to call his mother, drink a Coke, smoke a cigarette and STILL get out of the way, but doesn't. Happens quite frequently, especially in the bigger schools.

I agree with giving him the base on 95% + of the HBP. Besides, it doesn't take much to make an effort and it's my decision whether or not he made that effort.

[DG]

Actually, the Rulebook POE says "every attempt to avoid" The rule says the batter shall not "permit a pitched ball to touch him." I have no problem leaving a batter in the box if he doesn't move AT ALL. FED is not the NCAA where the box belongs to the batter, regardless. FED wants to reduce injuries and rewarding this tactic does not do that.

I recall maybe 2 times last year when I kept the batter in the box and I did not try to determine if he was frozen or just trying to get hit. I saw what everybody in the park saw, ie no attempt AT ALL to avoid the pitch. I calculate 2 times last year to be less than 0.1 % of the batters I saw.

One of the coaches tried to argue he was frozen and I told him he had time to take a break on that pitch. The other coach just argued and then said he had to because the player's dad was in the stands and he would expect him to.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by DG

Actually, the Rulebook POE says "every attempt to avoid" The rule says the batter shall not "permit a pitched ball to touch him."

The last si just another example of a st00pid phrasing. The former doesn't include where theright thing to do is not move to avoid getting hit. E.g. would be a ball thrown slightly behind a B, this will typically freeze and B and is why this is the most ofetn called violation when considering throwing at the B maliciously.

[Emperor Ump]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

I've seen several that freeze on the slow breaking curve ball - you know that one where he had time to call his mother, drink a Coke, smoke a cigarette and STILL get out of the way, but doesn't.

I had this exact situation last year when I was behind the plate on an eval game. And got dinged on it. The moment the pitch was released I knew it was going to plunk the batter and had time to take a nap before it got there. The batter took the hit. I call "Time! The pitch is a ball, batter your staying here!" I caught heck from the OC during the game and was talked to by the evaluator. His comments were along the line, the pitch was in the batters box, sometimes you need to let them take one for the team, and because the pitcher had 2 strikes, I was rewarding the pitcher because he had another chance to strike the batter out. I fully disagreed (but remained quiet at the time, arguing with an evaluator is never a good move, no matter how wrong they are)

I normally would give the batter all the benefit, but not to where its ridiculous.

[Rich]

If the batter is in the box, it's taking a lot for me to keep him there, no matter if the game's FED, NCAA, or otherwise.

The slow curve or the "move the wing into the ball" are the two major exceptions.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

The moment the pitch was released I knew it was going to plunk the batter and had time to take a nap before it got there. The batter took the hit. I call "Time! The pitch is a ball, batter your staying here!" I caught heck from the OC during the game and was talked to by the evaluator. His comments were along the line, the pitch was in the batters box, sometimes you need to let them take one for the team, and because the pitcher had 2 strikes, I was rewarding the pitcher because he had another chance to strike the batter out. I fully disagreed (but remained quiet at the time, arguing with an evaluator is never a good move, no matter how wrong they are)

I normally would give the batter all the benefit, but not to where its ridiculous.

It is so infrequently called that you keep B in the box that it is always going to be an issue. The stronger and the firmer you make the call, like its second nature, the better off you will be.

It's the mark of good officiating to make the right call and stand tall after doing so.