Hit Batsman

[don16954]

I know if a ball does not cross the the plate in the strike zone in flight, it is a ball, unless it does not make it over the baselines, then it is a balk/illegal pitch. I also am aware that the batter is allowed to swing at a ball that hits in front of the plate and then bounces over the plate; of which (s)he accepts the results: hit, strike, foul, etc. However, what if the ball hits in fair territory (in front of the plate or in the front plate side corner of the batter's box) or in foul territory (behind that imaginery extension of the baseline that separates foul from fair in the batter's box), then bounces up and hits the batter?
NHFS 8-1-1d states a when a batter becomes a runner. However, it, or no other rule makes a note of distinction of whether there is a different call if the ball bounces first rather than hitting the batter in flight. The case book makes no distinction either. I have asked local umpires, and they have no accurate source of what is the correct call to make either. So, we could all use some help. Thanks.

[jicecone]

Try OBR 6.08b. "The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when"

b."He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the stike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being hit by the ball".

It then goes on with more explainations however, the key thing here is , was the player touched by a pitched ball or not? Even though it hit the ground it was still a pitched ball.

[Tim C]

IF a ball that bounced was in some way dead (i.e. for the purpose of a hit batsman) then how on earth could an umpire decide if a ball in the dirt "just short" of the batter's foot hit the ground first or the foot first?

The easy call would be a ball that bounces 10' feet in front of the hitter but what about a ball that hits 1/8" in front of the foot. Both would be "bouncing balls."

This "myth" is based much on the same logic as "the hands are part of the bat". The "hands" logic comes from two different places:

1) In basketball the rules clearly state that the "hand is part of the ball" and,

2) sometimes it is real hard to distinguish if the ball strikes the bat or the hands (or on this play) the ball struck the ground or the foot first. To get away from the hard call some one once said, "Heck, the hands are bat of the bat!" Same with the bouncing pitch.

It seems strange that for some unknown reason people replace logic with myth on things like this.

I am in the Jenkins camp that says "any" ball the bounces and hits the batter is a hit batsman. The ball can take a funny bounce so I really don't worry about the hitter making an effort to get of the way.

Tee

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by don16954
NHFS 8-1-1d states a when a batter becomes a runner. However, it, or no other rule makes a note of distinction of whether there is a different call if the ball bounces first rather than hitting the batter in flight. The case book makes no distinction either.

The rules make no distinction because there isn't any.

A hit batter is a hit batter.

Award first.

[PAblue87]

The only thing a pitched ball that is in the dirt cannot be is a called strike.

[brandda]

As long as the batter is not standing on the plate, it's a hit batsman.

[soonerfan]

Originally posted by jicecone
Try OBR 6.08b. "The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when"

b."He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the stike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being hit by the ball".

It then goes on with more explainations however, the key thing here is , was the player touched by a pitched ball or not? Even though it hit the ground it was still a pitched ball.

Here is how I see it in plain English, not rulebooke-eze.
Any pitched ball that strikes a batter is a dead ball. Period. If the batter swings and misses and it hits the batter, TIME, dead ball no one advances(if applicable), oh and...STEEERIKE! If the batter does not swing and is hit, go to first. Plus, is it really fair to let a batter get hit on an obvious wild pitch, make them stay and maybe get hit again on the fly? John