HBP on the bounce.

[Tom R]

I know a bounced pitch only means that it cannot be a called strike.

What is the call when the ball bounces and hits the batter in the strike zone? It can't be a strike because [2.00 Strike (f)] it wasn't in flight. It doesn't get him first base because [6.08 (b)(1)] it touched him in the strike zone.

Is this a ball or does 6.08 assume in flight and it is HBP?

Tom R.

[Bob]

I'll take a flyer on this one.

Assumption is the batter is in the strike zone becuz the ball in the dirt was at or slightly behind him, so he moved forward and into the plate. Ball took a nasty hop right after him. I've got HBP.

Another choice is he was "leaning in" on a breaking ball headed for the dirt, lost his balance and stepped onto the plate or toward it to regain his balance. Up jumps the ball and tags him. I've still got HBP.

Becuz he wasn't swinging, and becuz the ball was in the dirt, and becuz he was in the plate area, I'm assuming he was moving to get out of the way of the pitch. I've got HBP if all the above is true.


Bob

[Carl Childress]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bob:
I'll take a flyer on this one.

Becuz he wasn't swinging, and becuz the ball was in the dirt, and becuz he was in the plate area, I'm assuming he was moving to get out of the way of the pitch. I've got HBP if all the above is true.

Bob

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Bob:

I agree. It's truly a point not exactly covered by the rules. But you're enumerated all the possibilities that it can't be, so we're left with HBP.

Good work.

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Papa C
Editor, eUmpire

[Art Hager]

On the off chance that you think he took advantage of the situation to get intentionally hit, I assume we would have a dead-ball "ball" call, regardless of whether the pitch was in the (former) zone.