Offer

[KJ'sDAD]

ASA

What constitutes an "offer" to a pitch?

Is a drag bunt an offer?

Thanks,
Kevin

[FUBLUE]

I've always thought of an offer as an attempt at the ball.

I ask myself, "did the batter attempt to hit the ball WITHOUT checking the swing?"
If yes, strike.
If no, ball (unless the pitch is a strike).

Most situations are a Had To Be There type of thing.

In your case, was there an attempt made at the ball on the drag bunt? For example, was she just "running through the batters box" or was she "running through the box trying to hit the ball?"

Attempts at the ball are solely judgment calls...Application of the definition.

Was I vague enough?

[Dakota]

Speaking ASA.

An "offer" (swing), as FUBLUE said, is making an attempt at the ball.

A batter merely running through the batter's box while carrying the bat is not a swing. It doesn't matter if the bat is on her shoulder or held out over the plate. If all she is doing is running and carrying, it is not a swing.

If, however, she makes an attempt at the ball while running, that is a swing.

Moving the bat toward the ball while running or swinging the bat while running would be considered an attempt.

[SC Ump]

I believe that most rule books and case books offer guidelines as to what might help an umpire judge if the ball was offered at. However, most then go on to say that these are only guidelines and the ultimate determination is whether the umpire thought the batter was attempting to hit the ball or not.