Is "By the book" the way to call this one?

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I think either J/R or JEA has spscific instructions to not call the out. If they don't, they should.

(You "always" need to go to the intent of the rule.)

I'm in agreement as to not call this but as devils advocate:

When the batter bailed he also had no intent on swinging. Yet when the ball hit the bat we all agree it's a foul.
In this situation why is intent ignored for one rule and applied for another?

[LakeErieUmp]

Because the ball had to go someplace. It didn't hit him so there's no HBP. It didn't go past him so it's not a ball. The only thing left is hit the bat thus foul ball which holds no penalty whatsoever (except in slow pitch which isn't baseballe anyway)

[Huskerblue]

So what if the ball somehow ends up being a fair ball?

[LakeErieUmp]

It didn't. It also didn't go over the fence, get eaten by a rhinoceros, or turn into gold.
IF however you want to talk about a different situation with the ball landing between the lines the previous posters are spot-on with their observations that the batter's feet were touching the line. Fair ball.
p.s. - better run!

[JR12]

Originally Posted by LakeErieUmp

It didn't. It also didn't go over the fence, get eaten by a rhinoceros, or turn into gold.
IF however you want to talk about a different situation with the ball landing between the lines the previous posters are spot-on with their observations that the batter's feet were touching the line. Fair ball.
p.s. - better run!

LOL!!!!!

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by LakeErieUmp

It didn't. It also didn't go over the fence, get eaten by a rhinoceros, or turn into gold.
IF however you want to talk about a different situation with the ball landing between the lines the previous posters are spot-on with their observations that the batter's feet were touching the line. Fair ball.
p.s. - better run!

Hmm baseballs turning into gold. I think I need to find some games in your area!

[charliej47]

I had the same situation where the ball hit the bat and then did a slow dribble down the third base line. I pointed the ball fair when it stopped and the batter took off for first. The F5 threw the ball into DBT and the batter was awarded 2nd.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Hmm baseballs turning into gold. I think I need to find some games in your area!

No kidding. And I'm not dropping the balls on the plate, tossing them toward the dugout, or in any other way returning said gold balls at the end of the game.

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by Huskerblue

So what if the ball somehow ends up being a fair ball?

Point the ball fair, play on. The batter can't be called out for contacting the ball outside the box if he is trying to avoid a pitched ball.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Point the ball fair, play on. The batter can't be called out for contacting the ball outside the box if he is trying to avoid a pitched ball.

I think by a strict reading the rule you could call the batter out. I don't think it is keeping with the philosophy of the rule though.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by Huskerblue

So what if the ball somehow ends up being a fair ball?

Vigorously point to fair territory.

Bob

[jdmara]

I believe the spirit of the rule is that the batter is gaining an advantage by stepping outside of the box. In this case, the batter is clearly not gaining an advantage by 'hitting the ejector seat button' and bailing. Crazy play, foul/fair ball depending on where the ball lands.

-Josh

[Heightslife]

Originally Posted by Huskerblue

So what if the ball somehow ends up being a fair ball?

Thats a live ball and have seen it happen. The defense usually catches on before the batter even stands up and batter gets thrown out at first.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by CO ump

I'm in agreement as to not call this but as devils advocate:

When the batter bailed he also had no intent on swinging. Yet when the ball hit the bat we all agree it's a foul.
In this situation why is intent ignored for one rule and applied for another?

I don't believe it is ignored, it is just not explained one way or the other in the rules. I believe it states that the batter is out if he hits the ball while (depending on the code) standing out of the box. Therefore intent seems to be a reasonable method to resolve that which is not interpreted for us.

In the case of a foul ball, it pretty black and white. Did it hit the bat or not?
Intent means nothing here.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by jicecone

I don't believe it is ignored, it is just not explained one way or the other in the rules. I believe it states that the batter is out if he hits the ball while (depending on the code) standing out of the box. Therefore intent seems to be a reasonable method to resolve that which is not interpreted for us.

In the case of a foul ball, it pretty black and white. Did it hit the bat or not?
Intent means nothing here.

Just as where the batter on a fewer-than-2-strike count bails on a pitch 5 feet inside, yet it strikes the bat on the batter's shoulder and wala! he turned a sure ball into a strike. Stuff happens.