Max Scherzer - HBP

rbmartin · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Jun 21, 2015, 11:31am

Tabata breaks up perfect game | MLB.com

Just a couple observations:
1) Even though it sure looks to me (with the benefit of replay) like the batter purposefully moved his elbow into the pitch, I cannot fault the HP Umpire for ruling HBP. This would be very difficult to see.
2) BrooksBaseball PITCHf/x showed the pitch to be about 7" inside the plate. A pitch does not belong in the Batters Box and if it goes there you will seldom get the benefit of the doubt.
3) Per MLB review criteria "Notwithstanding the foregoing, whether the ball was in the strike zone when it touched the batter, and whether the batter made any attempt to avoid being touched by the ball, shall not be reviewable." So no, it is NOT reviewable.

Welpe · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Jun 21, 2015, 11:37am

Looks to me in real time that the batter is getting ready to swing on a breaking pitch that didn't break enough, which is why his elbow is dropping down.

The pitch shouldn't have been that far inside. A perfecto is always nice to see but it has to be earned. This one wasn't.

chapmaja · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 24, 2015, 10:52pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welpe

Looks to me in real time that the batter is getting ready to swing on a breaking pitch that didn't break enough, which is why his elbow is dropping down.

The pitch shouldn't have been that far inside. A perfecto is always nice to see but it has to be earned. This one wasn't.

I disagree. I think this is a clear attempt to get hit by the pitch. Was the pitch inside, absolutely, but this was an intentional attempt to get hit by the pitch, not making an attempt to swing at the pitch.

Rich Ives · #4 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 24, 2015, 11:18pm

NO ONE in the game objected. Get it?

Rich · #5 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 24, 2015, 11:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

NO ONE in the game objected. Get it?

That's the part everyone seems to be missing. Well, not everyone, obviously.

#6 (**permalink**) Sun Jun 28, 2015, 10:32pm

Might this play become reviewable in the future?

Rich · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 29, 2015, 07:05am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AremRed

Might this play become reviewable in the future?

Why? Again, none of the participants argued the play. What's to review? The pitch was in the box.

DG · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 29, 2015, 09:33pm

I think the batter moved into the pitch, outside of the zone in the batter's box, but to be a perfect game it has to be perfect and hitting a batter in the box is not perfect.