crowding the plate

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

• ...
• Be sure the batter is legally in the box. If he isn't it is not your duty to back him out! Umpire by the rules - ...

ozzy,

If the batter does not take a legal position in the batter's box as he prepares to receive the pitch, it most certanly IS the umpire's "duty" to instruct him to take a legal position.

Other than that, I concur with your comments.

JM

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

ozzy,

If the batter does not take a legal position in the batter's box as he prepares to receive the pitch, it most certanly IS the umpire's "duty" to instruct him to take a legal position.

Other than that, I concur with your comments.

JM

Although OBR 6.03 states that the batter shall have both feet within the batter's box, the MLBUM gives the first opportunity of notice to the defense (unless the batter is blatant about it). If brought to the umpire's attention, the umpire will instruct the batter to place himself properly in the batter's box. There is no penalty unless the batter refuses to get in the box. If the batter's position is blatantly out of the box, the umpire may instruct the batter to get into the box. Of course, if the batter hit a pitched ball while outside the box, he is to be declared out.

So, I would rather have the defense tell me and correct the batter because if unnoticed, I can get an out if he hits the ball! Unless he gets drilled by the pitch, in which case he will probably be in the strike zone and gets to stay at the plate (they hate when you do that to them).

[Dave Reed]

Interesting comment in the MLBUM, but the NCAA has a different take:
"7.11e. A batter’s legal position in the box shall be defined as having both feet completely within the box (lines are part of the box).
A.R. —Umpires are to enforce this rule as written. If the line of the batter’s box has been erased, the umpire shall require that upon the batter’s initial stance, both feet are no closer than 6 inches from the inside edge of home plate.
PENALTY—Require the batter to move to a proper position.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

Interesting comment in the MLBUM, but the NCAA has a different take:

As, I believe, do most amateur codes.

But if I ever worK a Major League game, now I'll know how to call this!

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

... Unless he gets drilled by the pitch, in which case he will probably be in the strike zone and gets to stay at the plate (they hate when you do that to them).

I had my first unsportsmanlike ejection of a H.S. player ever yesterday based on that very thing. It wasn't a strike, but he got nicked and I kept him. I don't think I've done that more than five or six times ever. But the kid caused the ball to hit him. He argued, I told him to get in the batter's box and don't say another word. After a brief argument with his coach, I stepped back behind the dish and the little wise-a** turned and looked back and said, "I guess everything's going to be a strike no matter where it is." I didn't even talk to him again. I took my mask off and walked down the line, took out my lineup card and pencil and asked the head coach which batter he's going to be putting in to assume No. 8's 2-2 count because he's out of the ballgame. The wise-a** even dropped some bombs on the way out (making his suspension longer).

He was such a little a-hole that his catcher came out for the bottom of the inning and said that watching that kid get tossed was his team's favorite event of the season. Apparently, I tossed the right guy--someone his team is glad to see suspended.