Illegally batted ball?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Man, PU blew the snot out of this call. He has a clear view of B's foot out of the box but he's looking up the line. The mechanic here is simple, once B has made contact, a quick glance down (don't have to dip your head) to check feet and the right call is made.

Pitiful.

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

Exactly. The inside line of the box is obliterated -- the PU is supposed to be able to tell if the back of the heel is out of the box or not based on that quick look?

Quick glance down? Prove that the foot was ON THE GROUND and completely out of the box at the INSTANT contact with the ball was made. You simply can't do that.

If you go looking for this crap, you're failing at your #1 job -- tracking the pitch.

[Chris Viverito]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Exactly. The inside line of the box is obliterated -- the PU is supposed to be able to tell if the back of the heel is out of the box or not based on that quick look?

Quick glance down? Prove that the foot was ON THE GROUND and completely out of the box at the INSTANT contact with the ball was made. You simply can't do that.

If you go looking for this crap, you're failing at your #1 job -- tracking the pitch.

C'mon. Umpires are perfect. How can you possibly say this?

[rbmartin]

1) IMO probably a play on. Unless you clearly see his foot COMPLETELY outside the box....play on!

2) Would it be at all appropriate for a field umpire to help out on this call since he has a better view that PU?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

2) Would it be at all appropriate for a field umpire to help out on this call since he has a better view that PU?

No.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

1) IMO probably a play on. Unless you clearly see his foot COMPLETELY outside the box....play on!

Agree!

2) Would it be at all appropriate for a field umpire to help out on this call since he has a better view that PU?

Get the call right is my mantra. Absolutely!

[bob jenkins]

In some game I was watching this weekend (maybe Cubs-Brewers), a similar play happened. Routine sac bunt, and the batter was clearly out of the box. No call, no replay, no discussion, ....

It will "never" be called in MLB on anything approaching a routine play.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

In some game I was watching this weekend (maybe Cubs-Brewers), a similar play happened. Routine sac bunt, and the batter was clearly out of the box. No call, no replay, no discussion, ....

It will "never" be called in MLB on anything approaching a routine play.

I agree. Why is that? Why should there be different rules, clear violations of OBR, that are overlooked? Is it having a "player's mentality" as an MLB umpire?

The OBR needs a complete rewrite. This is one of dozens of examples - another would be pitch-counts which alter ball-strike zones - of rules that are ignored, reduced or have no agreed interpretation. There are no rules to cover some situations.

It's fast becoming a serious joke and the end game will be the automation of officiating at ever increasing levels.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Agree!Get the call right is my mantra. Absolutely!

So ... you're proposing that one of the field umpires, from 100-130 feet away, is supposed to be able to see this batter's heel, the chalk, and the ball being struck all at the same time and his judgment (guess!) should overrule the PU who is 2-3 feet away? Please for the sake of this game, stay the heck off the field. Please.

Go find a field - a 90' base one, not the 60's you're certainly working on, blur out the lines as closely as possible to what you see in the video, go head to any MLB umpire position and tell us if you can see ANY chalk - any at all. You can't.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

So ... you're proposing that one of the field umpires, from 100-130 feet away, is supposed to be able to see this batter's heel, the chalk, and the ball being struck all at the same time and his judgment (guess!) should overrule the PU who is 2-3 feet away?

Go find a field - a 90' base one, not the 60's you're certainly working on, blur out the lines as closely as possible to what you see in the video, go head to any MLB umpire position and tell us if you can see ANY chalk - any at all. You can't.

I answered this when I said that BU cannot overrule PU. This doesn't mean that BU if he sees something that is contrary to PUs ruling, he has the ethical responsibility to let PU know. Then PU can either do the right thing and correct his call or he can curl up and slink back behind the plate the coward he is.

[BSUmp16]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Exactly. The inside line of the box is obliterated -- the PU is supposed to be able to tell if the back of the heel is out of the box or not based on that quick look?

Quick glance down? Prove that the foot was ON THE GROUND and completely out of the box at the INSTANT contact with the ball was made. You simply can't do that.

If you go looking for this crap, you're failing at your #1 job -- tracking the pitch.

I understand why the ump may have missed the call (for all the reasons previously stated); but the line is not "obliterated". You can plainly see it in the different camera angles and the batter's heel (and his entire foot) is clearly outside the box when he makes contact with the ball. By rule it should have been called an out.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by BSUmp16

By rule it should have been called an out.

By common sense, it was a great bunt.

[Suudy]

What about the case of swinging at an IBB? I can't find a video of Cabrera's hit, but I wonder how far he had to reach. Are illegally batted balls called at all?

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by richmsn

if you go looking for this crap, you're failing at your #1 job -- tracking the pitch.

+1

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best
Man, PU blew the snot out of this call. He has a clear view of B's foot out of the box but he's looking up the line. The mechanic here is simple, once B has made contact, a quick glance down (don't have to dip your head) to check feet and the right call is made.

Pitiful.

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

Please, the swearing is unnecessary. Hold deep your frustrations.

Simple call. I am looking at the exact moment (clip) that B contacts the ball. The PU is looking up the line and/or at the ball. Never once did he look at the feet of the batter.

If he had been checking foot position as the proper mechanic immediately after the ball is contacted, he would have clearly seen that B's left foot is behind the point of home plate. The inside line of the box is clearly in view as is the where the intersection of the inside and back lines would meet.

OUT.

PU blew it not so much that he missed a clearly illegally batted ball but that, imo, he freaked when he saw it was a squeeze. Hence, up the line goes his attention and away goes the proper call.