Batters dig themselves a Hole!

[rngrck]

Had a game today and both teams really went to work tearing up the box. The Pitchers loved it. Low pitches that were normally balls now became strikes. At what point if any do you put a stop to this "digging" in the same spot. It just seemed like every batter would dig deeper and deeper. Then they complain about low strikes !! lol

[mbyron]

I call ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out, and enforce the rules. Nothin' in the book about digging holes.

If a batter complained about a low pitch, I would say, "well, if you guys dig those holes any deeper, the pitchers can start bowling strikes!"

[kylejt]

I'm missing the correlation between the batters digging in, and you miscalling balls and strikes. Moreover, I am completely baffled why you might find cheating a team humorous.

As for the holes in the batters box, I wouldn't do anything about it unless one side complained, or I thought it might be a tripping hazard for the catcher or myself. Good pitchers usually take of this, not umpires.

[UmpJM]

kylejt,

I believe that rngrck (& mbyron) were simply suggesting that pitches "at the knees" were "lower" to the plate than they would have been had the batters' feet not been in the hoes in the batter's box.

If the batter's feet are 6" below the level of the plate, his strike zone is going to be lower as well, no?

JM

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

kylejt,

I believe that rngrck (& mbyron) were simply suggesting that pitches "at the knees" were "lower" to the plate than they would have been had the batters' feet not been in the hoes in the batter's box.

If the batter's feet are 6" below the level of the plate, his strike zone is going to be lower as well, no?

JM

I doubt that a batter is going to be able to dig anything more than an inch deep, and if he does then the hole is a safety hazard and needs to be filled in.

In the situation described by the OP, I would ask the home team coach to fill the holes, and prevent batters from digging too deep.

[TussAgee11]

I've seen holes a lot deeper then an inch...

And I'm not groundscrew. They stay like that. Somebody wants them filled, they can fill them themselves... The field I'm thinking of is a real sand box.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

kylejt,



If the batter's feet are 6" below the level of the plate, his strike zone is going to be lower as well, no?

JM

Um, seeing that no one in the right mind digs in with their front foot, I'd be inclined to say you're incorrect.

Now is some rodent is digging six inch holes on my field, I'm calling Carl Spackler to kill all the goffers on the course. He doesn't even have to have a reason.

[rngrck]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

kylejt,

I believe that rngrck (& mbyron) were simply suggesting that pitches "at the knees" were "lower" to the plate than they would have been had the batters' feet not been in the hoes in the batter's box.

If the batter's feet are 6" below the level of the plate, his strike zone is going to be lower as well, no?

JM

That is exactly my point! Any smart pitcher will let a batter dig in as much as he wants.

[kylejt]

Six inches?!

Are you guys using the same measuring tape that you use to measure......



....never mind.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Six inches?!

Are you guys using the same measuring tape that you use to measure......



....never mind.

Reminds me of a line from my old o-line coach when our splits were too tight:

"6 inch split bossman!! You might be able to convince your girlfriend that that's 6 inches, but you aint foolin me!!"

[johnnyg08]

sometimes the field you play on require you to dig in to get a good grip...at least back in my playing days...the cruddy batter's boxes had holes 6 inches deep by the 3rd inning...if you were a lefty...you had the advantage...as umpires, we have better things to worry about

[CC1352]

The deeper they dig, the more i'll ring em.

[TussAgee11]

As Dizzy Dean used to say: "Dig yourself a deep one sonny boy, because ole Dizz is going to BURY you in it".

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by CC1352

The deeper they dig, the more i'll ring em.

Why?

[CC1352]

Because I can.