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crowding the plate
this is the situation. High school JV game. Two good teams
Left handed batter lined up with the toe on his left rear foot just behind home plate, but on the left edge of the plate.. During one at bat, the toe was actually past the left edge of the plate, but behind it( not touching the plate). His hands were over the plate and he was in a crouch with his front arm high and his rear arm low. This position made it almost impossible to see the ball comming from the pitcher. My only clean look would have been to go to the right side of the plate. after his second at bat, in which i moved to many different spots to see the ball, I finally just set up in a normal position and waited until the ball came into my vision OVER THE PLATE, to make a call. I was able to make most calls, but the outside corner was tough, especially for curve balls. I only had an instant to make a decision and i never knew exactly where the ball would come into my vision. Late in game, I called a pitch ( think it was a curve), on the outside of the plate a strike. Player reacted in badly. After game, the coach came up and said, "you need to work on your zone, that pitch on 14 was a ball". I tried to explain the severity of his crowding the plate and me making proper calls, but he wasn't listening. So, How do the experienced officials handle players when they crowd the plate in a way that your vision is blocked? As an asside, the assistant coach for that same team came up afterthe game and said " I am disapointed that you did not throw 14 out for unsportman conduct, he shouldn't have reaacted like he did and it was unsportsman like". i have never had a coach want his own player thrown out!!!! |
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Move him back and if he refuses to back up, charge him a strike. And, without seeing in real life, it sounds like the coach was right - you should have dumped the player for "reacting badly." And you should learn not to talk to coaches after the game - especially if they are going to be critical of your work. And you definitely do not owe him an explanation of "crowding the plate in a way your vision is blocked." If you need correcting, that is the job of your assigner or training chairman. The coach needs to be with his team. And remember, even after the game a coach or player can be "ejected" for unsportsmanlike conduct, with a report to the state. Don't let them get away with that. |
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Thanks,
this is my second year and I think i am doing pretty good, but each situation like this is a learning experience. I was just not sure how to handle it while in the line of fire. I would like to hear from more of you, that are experienced, in how you have dealt with this type of problem. |
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wow! |
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Tks for keeping me in check. |
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When in doubt, bang 'em out! Ozzy |
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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
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Finally, be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all. |
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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).
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When in doubt, bang 'em out! Ozzy |
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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. |
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But if I ever worK a Major League game, now I'll know how to call this! ![]() |
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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. |
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I have been looking through my NFHS rule book, concerning a rule about a batters foot position, while in the box and waiting for a pitch. Is any portion of his feet allowed to be out of the box?
surely there must be something, or the batter could stand anywhere he wanted to. Is there any rule pertaining to this? I don't do above high school, so let's keep college rules out of it. |
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When "hitting a pitch" it's illegal only if the entire foot is beyon the line (or, in FED or NCAAA touching the plate). |
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