Steve:

Thanks for the OBR clarification, but that the point I was trying to make is that an on-deck batter must use the one on his team's side of the dugout.

MTD, Sr.

An umpire who would allow on deck to be within 12 feet of the batter is not likely to own a BRD, the only place I can find this interp, including my PBUC. There is also no penalty listed in my BRD for this interp so I don't know what it would be. And while PBUC has some interesting stuff in it, it applies to minor league baseball, not 15-18 year olds playing under OBR rules. And, this was a FED question.

It is terrible that the little boy was hurt at his very first MLB game but it can happen anywhere at anytime. Lilly bats left and the Cubs dugout is on the third base side of the diamond.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8...PHCP&GT1=39002

MTD, Sr.

It says that in the MLBUM also.

In reality they only seem to care that someone is in the on deck circle.

It's one of those "who cares" rules - like the coach not being in the coaching box or F3 having a foot in foul ground in a hold-on. Just leave it alone unless someone complains.

I would bring up 3.13, the liability issue, then no longer work for them.

If, during a regular season game under state/fed rules, the on-deck batter is not where he is supposed to be and you allow it, YOU are liable for his injuries.

I saw this develop from Babe Ruth ball and other youngun leagues as a way to speed up the game. Seems the extra 6 feet or so is an arduous trek for a 10 y.o. Yes, a lefty goes to the circle near the right batter's box (even if the batter is a righty.)

So, I can't throw in a different rule set just for conversation's sake? Yeah, yeah, FED schmed. A group of monkeys got together and made some rules. Fine.

My response was aimed toward the claim by MTD, Sr. that all rule sets allowed the option of an on-deck hitter. I was merely pointing out that in OBR there is to be an on-deck hitter. Now of course, nobody in their right mind would allow someone on deck 12 feet from the plate. And there is not a penalty for nobody on deck in OBR. The umpire just instructs the on-deck batter to take his position in the circle (which is supposed to be 37' from the plate). And there is a huge penalty that follows when an umpire's order is not followed.;)

The other interp from Fitzpatrick stated that the on-deck batter must remain in the circle until announced at the beginning of an inning, or until the previous batter has completed his turn at bat. From this statement alone, it follows that there is supposed to be someone occupying the on-deck circle.

The important thing is that all rules codes (both baseball and fast pitch softball: NFHS, NCAA, OBR, ASA, USSSA) require the on-deck batter to be on his team's side of the dugout if he is going to be in live ball territory or he must be in dead ball territory (I know that OBR requires the on-deck batter to be in the on-deck circle on this team's dugout side of the diamond).

MTD, Sr.

Okay, okay Mark...we get it already! That is the important thing to remember in your opinion. Somewhere a deceased equine is being beaten severely.

OBR rocks, FED smells like socks.:)