Ball slips from pitcher's hand

[IRISHMAFIA]

Fishing around about a question on another board and tripped over this. Just never noticed the ramifications of this change:

USA Softball

Rule 6A.3
P. If the ball slips from the pitcher's hand during the delivery
1. The ball remains live
2. A ball on the batter
3. Runners may advance at their own risk

If the batter attempts to hit such a ball, how are you going to call a strike or fair when the rule book specifically has declared the pitch a ball?

Was there an interpretation or amendment I missed?

[RKBUmp]

I have seen no change in interpretation, and you still have the case play about a pitched ball rolling toward the plate and the catcher stepping out and picking it up before it reaches the plate.

Sounds like they did some editing again to the rule book, like when they inserted the word "entitled" into the rule on a batter running on dropped third strike. The word could really change how the rule is applied, yet there was no change in any of the case plays or in how the rule is to be applied.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Fishing around about a question on another board and tripped over this. Just never noticed the ramifications of this change:

USA Softball

Rule 6A.3
P. If the ball slips from the pitcher's hand during the delivery
1. The ball remains live
2. A ball on the batter
3. Runners may advance at their own risk

If the batter attempts to hit such a ball, how are you going to call a strike or fair when the rule book specifically has declared the pitch a ball?

Was there an interpretation or amendment I missed?

NFHS allows the pitch if the batter swings at it, ball if no swing or no chance to hit it. I bet some of us would apply that to USA.

[Manny A]

This is the exact verbiage that was in the older rule book under 6-A-11 for Dropped Ball. For whatever reason, USA decided to delete that rule and put the language under 6-A-3P instead.

In fact, my 2015 printed book, and a 2008 electronic book I found on the web, say virtually the exact same thing:

2015:

Section 11 - DROPPED BALL.
If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during the delivery, a ball is declared on the batter, the ball remains live, runners may advance at their own risk.

2008:

Section 11. DROPPED BALL.
If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during the delivery, a ball is declared on the batter, the ball will remain live and the runner(s) may advance at their own risk.

So there really has been no significant change to the language in the last ten years at least.

[jmkupka]

... and even if F1 is bowling a perfect strike across the plate, F2 won't be called for CO if she jumps forward to grab it and prevent the steal at home...

... and if Batter reaches the bat out to poke the ball in play (during F2's attempt to field it), it's a batted pitch, not INT...

and if, and if...

[RKBUmp]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

... and even if F1 is bowling a perfect strike across the plate, F2 won't be called for CO if she jumps forward to grab it and prevent the steal at home...

... and if Batter reaches the bat out to poke the ball in play (during F2's attempt to field it), it's a batted pitch, not INT...

and if, and if...

I would have to look for it, but there is a case play or rule clarification about a catcher stepping out in front of the plate and picking up the pitch before the batter has a chance to strike at it. If it is rolling toward the plate the catcher must let it continue to roll until it reaches the plate. If it is obvious the ball has no chance of reaching the plate or is rolling toward one of the dugouts, then the catcher can go get it without penalty.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

, then the catcher can go get it without penalty.

Or any other fielder.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

I would have to look for it, but there is a case play or rule clarification about a catcher stepping out in front of the plate and picking up the pitch before the batter has a chance to strike at it. If it is rolling toward the plate the catcher must let it continue to roll until it reaches the plate. If it is obvious the ball has no chance of reaching the plate or is rolling toward one of the dugouts, then the catcher can go get it without penalty.

I'd wager not many catchers would know that rule nor would batters. Add coaches and parents while we're at it. And probably half your partners.