NFHS batter stepping out of box

[shipwreck]

In NFHS, if a batter requests time and it is not granted by the umpire and the pitcher delivers the pitch, doesn't the rule say the pitch SHALL by called a strike? I believe in the same scenario in ASA the rule says the pitch shall be called a ball or strike depending on the location of the pitch. Am I reading both of these correctly and if so then if the pitcher air mailed one 6' over the batter, in NFHS it would be a strike??? What do you say? Dave

[Dholloway1962]

My understanding:

NFHS....Strike

ASA...our UIC interpretation here is it is going to be a strike most, if not all of the time, in other words a very generous strike zone.

[Skahtboi]

NFHS 7:3:1:2 does in fact state that the pitch "shall be called a strike."

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

if the pitcher air mailed one 6' over the batter, in NFHS it would be a strike??? What do you say? Dave

I would suggest "ball".

[shipwreck]

OK, but pretty regularly on this board it is stated that we should have a rule to reference to, to make or not make a ruling. What rule cites that we can call it a ball. Dave

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

OK, but pretty regularly on this board it is stated that we should have a rule to reference to, to make or not make a ruling. What rule cites that we can call it a ball. Dave

If the request is so late that I will not grant time, I've got a few more things to worry about than the location of the batter's feet.

Yes, I know that it should be obvious the batter isn't there, but you know how blind us umpires are . Once the pitch is on the way, how would you know the batter completely left the box without losing the pitch? And what if you are wrong, what do you call the pitch?

[shipwreck]

That's kind of the way I feel. I bet the majority of coaches don't even realize what the rules actually says. If I called a strike on a pitch that was WAY, WAY out of the strike zone, it would probably be a tough sell to the offensive coach even though I have the rule to back me. Dave

[AtlUmpSteve]

And where (rhetorically speaking) are the armpits or knees of a batter who isn't in the batter's box? To me, very generous (in ASA) is more than a suggestion; it is a message that should be sent.

In NFHS, I have zero problem calling it a strike; if the coach doesn't know the rule (even with the 2007 POE directing umpires to NOT GRANT TIME), the coach will learn it very quickly.