Batting Cage Swings before game at bat

[johnnyg08]

The pros do this all the time. He's not delaying his at bat. Any coach who would choose to complain about tick-tack stuff such as that...well, we are talking about coaches here.

[mick]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

The pros do this all the time. He's not delaying his at bat. Any coach who would choose to complain about tick-tack stuff such as that...well, we are talking about coaches here.

If the batting cage is in a favorable location to the home team, I think the complaint remains legitimate, if not punishable.

[BretMan]

FED rule 1-2-3:

The on-deck circle should be to the side and away from home plate, 37 feet if space allows. Neither team's players shall warm up in the other team's on-deck circle. The on-deck circle does not have to be occupied, but if a player wishes to warm up, he shall do so only in his team's on-deck circle, provided the on-deck circle is located safely away from home plate. (2-23-1)

The pros don't "do this all the time"- not if they are the next batter. While they might go take a few cuts in the cage before then, once they are the on-deck batter they must be in the on-deck circle

[bob jenkins]

A FED interp several years ago said that using the batting cage could be done if it wasn't a distraction (hint, hint), and that the home team did not need to make the cage available to the visitors.

I agree with the comments that it can't be the on-deck batter.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

A FED interp several years ago said that using the batting cage could be done if it wasn't a distraction (hint, hint), and that the home team did not need to make the cage available to the visitors.

I agree with the comments that it can't be the on-deck batter.

For those who don't take Bob's hint, I believe he's saying something along these lines: if the home team isn't making it available to the visitors, then he's going to rule it a distraction and disallow it. Or maybe he'll just disallow it anyway, stating that it's a distraction. Either way, we've got a ruling to support disallowing it.

I've seen a couple fields with cages by the home dugout, but I've not seen them used during a game. Good to know how to handle that if I see it.

[Ump29]

In our area the batting cage cannot be used by anyone during a game for actual batting practice. There is nothing against using it for warm up swings if it were close enough (no delay of game) and it can be used as a bullpen to warm up pitchers etc.

[bob jenkins]

FED 2001 Interps, Play1, RULING: The umpire has no jurisdiction over the use of equipment or facilities outside the confines of the field. This is a matter that must be settled between the coaches or their league. However, if the batting practice is taken during the game and the sound of the metal bats becomes distracting, the umpire can prohibit future use of the batting cage (10-2-3; Approved Ruling 1990)

[mbyron]

Great ruling. Keep the umpires focused on what happens on the field, but distractions to the game from outside can be addressed. Thanks, Bob.