Check Swing Appeal...Unrequested?

[Warren Willson]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
The PBUC hasn't instructed umpires to refuse such request for checked swings, Warren.

I didn't say that they had! I said that they no longer believed the BU was in the best position to make that call. That is reflected in the fact that their criterion for deciding whether a batter checked or not has changed from the 70's version of "Did the barrel of the bat break the plane of the plate" to the 90's version of "Did the batter swing at the pitch".

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
PS - I don't know how you can say that the PBUC has concluded the plate umpire has the better view. Wasn't there a study done where checked swings were looked at and 90% of the time the batter actually offered? If so, why isn't the plate umpire CALLING 90% of the check swings as strikes?

See above.

It's all a matter of opinion, right Rich?

Cheers