Batter hit after swing

[Hoosier_Dave]

1. Batter squares to bunt. Pitch is low and really inside and hits batter. Batter tries to avoid getting hit and in the process doesn't pull the bunt back. I called a strike because the play takes precedence. Coach agreed with call. What is the status of ball? I called dead ball which would be the case if batted ball hits batter. Can't find the rule to support this.

2. What is your opinion about the catcher chattering (Hey, batter, batter) at the batter while pitcher is in motion? I maintain that this gives the defense an unfair advantage, so I don't allow it. The players in the field and in the dugout can yell as loudly and as much as they want, just not the catcher. Had a player question me last nite on this; said she couldn't find it in the rules. I told her I consider it catcher obstruction 8-1D. Rereading 8-1D there's nothing mentioned about verbal obstruction. However, NF has verbal obstruction.

What's your opine?

[gsf23]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

1. Batter squares to bunt. Pitch is low and really inside and hits batter. Batter tries to avoid getting hit and in the process doesn't pull the bunt back. I called a strike because the play takes precedence. Coach agreed with call. What is the status of ball? I called dead ball which would be the case if batted ball hits batter. Can't find the rule to support this.

2. What is your opinion about the catcher chattering (Hey, batter, batter) at the batter while pitcher is in motion? I maintain that this gives the defense an unfair advantage, so I don't allow it. The players in the field and in the dugout can yell as loudly and as much as they want, just not the catcher. Had a player question me last nite on this; said she couldn't find it in the rules. I told her I consider it catcher obstruction 8-1D. Rereading 8-1D there's nothing mentioned about verbal obstruction. However, NF has verbal obstruction.

What's your opine?

#1 - I have a dead ball, HBP, batter take your base. Even though the bat wasn't pulled back, from what you describe I don't see any attempt by the batter to bunt the ball.

#2 - As the pitcher is in motion I think I would try to quell that, but anytime other than that I don't mind. I don't see any problem with the catcher chattering at the batter between pitches, while giving signs things like that, unless it starts to border on taunting.

[CecilOne]

for #1 - the only rules that require a pull back are NCAA

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

1. Batter squares to bunt. Pitch is low and really inside and hits batter. Batter tries to avoid getting hit and in the process doesn't pull the bunt back. I called a strike because the play takes precedence. Coach agreed with call. What is the status of ball? I called dead ball which would be the case if batted ball hits batter. Can't find the rule to support this.

Speaking ASA

As others have said, it doesn't appear that the batter attempted to hit the ball, so it can only be a strike if the ball was in the strike zone when hitting the batter which you have discounted by your description.

2. What is your opinion about the catcher chattering (Hey, batter, batter) at the batter while pitcher is in motion? I maintain that this gives the defense an unfair advantage, so I don't allow it. The players in the field and in the dugout can yell as loudly and as much as they want, just not the catcher. Had a player question me last nite on this; said she couldn't find it in the rules. I told her I consider it catcher obstruction 8-1D. Rereading 8-1D there's nothing mentioned about verbal obstruction. However, NF has verbal obstruction.

Still speaking ASA

No, no member of the defense can talk or yell at the opposition. However, it is not catcher's obstruction. It is, in my judgment, unsportsmanlike conduct.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

1. Batter squares to bunt. Pitch is low and really inside and hits batter. Batter tries to avoid getting hit and in the process doesn't pull the bunt back. I called a strike because the play takes precedence. Coach agreed with call. What is the status of ball? I called dead ball which would be the case if batted ball hits batter. Can't find the rule to support this.

Whose rules? As Cecil said, NCAA requires the bat to be withdrawn. So does AFA (or at least they did in 2004 - the latest AFA book I have). But, even if I was calling this with AFA rules, I would not have ruled that a bunt attempt. Clearly, the batter was attempting to avoid the pitch, not bunt the ball. Maybe you are looking for something too literal in "pulling the bat back" ... did the bat really remain stationary over the plate while the batter was moving to avoid? That'd be some body control!

Anytime the batter is hit with a pitch, it is a dead ball. What happens after the ball is dead depends, but this certainly sounds like a HBP with an award of 1B.

Mike covered the "hey batter..." stuff.

[Hoosier_Dave]

1. The batter had squared to bunt when pitcher started her motion. Ball was low. Batter was trying to follow pitch down to bunt. In my opinion, she was trying to bunt it. The ball hit her in the foot before she could make contact. Still same call?

2. Where is unsportsmanlike conduct covered in the rules?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

1. The batter had squared to bunt when pitcher started her motion. Ball was low. Batter was trying to follow pitch down to bunt. In my opinion, she was trying to bunt it. The ball hit her in the foot before she could make contact. Still same call?

2. Where is unsportsmanlike conduct covered in the rules?

1. You've removed the "tried to avoid" part and added an "offer" at the pitch. This is a dead ball strike.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

2. Where is unsportsmanlike conduct covered in the rules?

You're kidding, right? Speaking ASA, it is referenced throughout the rules as necessary. USC is umpire's judgment. There is no definitive rule to determine what is or isn't USC.

If you need a written rule to define USC before enforcing it, well, nevermind.

[Hoosier_Dave]

Don't bash me too much. I haven't had the rules book very long. I'm used to football rules that has a specific section for conduct of players and specifically defines USC. Also, football clinics specifically spell out what is and is not taunting.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dave

Don't bash me too much. I haven't had the rules book very long. I'm used to football rules that has a specific section for conduct of players and specifically defines USC. Also, football clinics specifically spell out what is and is not taunting.

Let me ask you this: If a football player did something you considered compeltely disgusting and an act of unsportsmanlike conduct that wasn't listed anywhere or mentioned in any clinic, would you ignore it or throw the flag?