Umpire Mechanics

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

No more so than if they had been playing with regulation batter's boxes marked. Again, totally my judgment as to whether or not they made contact with the ball outside of the box.

If the lines are wrong or non-existent, it boils down to the umpire's best judgment as to whether or not a batter is in the box. Best way to handle it is to make it clear in the pregame conference that you know the boxes are wrong, and that the lines will not be used to judge whether or not a batter's in the box.

Last night, I was calling on a field where the crew chalks only the outside and back lines to the box. The front line and line closest to the plate are always missing, so it's my judgment as to whether or not they're beyond the lines.

One guy decided to get cute with me about it and stepped into the box with one foot about an inch or so from the plate. I told him to get back. He fussed and grumbled. Long story made very short, his attitude and attempt to show me up afterward earned him the first ejection of the year.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

One guy decided to get cute with me about it and stepped into the box with one foot about an inch or so from the plate. I told him to get back. He fussed and grumbled. Long story made very short, his attitude and attempt to show me up afterward earned him the first ejection of the year.

Dave,

The lines should be 6 inches from the plate. Assuming an average shoe size of 9 or 10, couldn't the batter have that one foot partially in the batter's box [unless he was stepping parallel to the line and the side of the plate]? If he contacts the ball with one foot completely out of the box, or while stepping on HP, the batter is out.

But if he wants to snug up to HP, what's the violation?

Now, whatever happened after that regarding his attitude or whatever, I've no comment.

Ted

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Dave,

The lines should be 6 inches from the plate. Assuming an average shoe size of 9 or 10, couldn't the batter have that one foot partially in the batter's box [unless he was stepping parallel to the line and the side of the plate]? If he contacts the ball with one foot completely out of the box, or while stepping on HP, the batter is out.

But if he wants to snug up to HP, what's the violation?

Now, whatever happened after that regarding his attitude or whatever, I've no comment.

Ted

From ASA 7-3-A:

Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely within the lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the pitch.

That's the violation.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Thanx. Forgot that part. Pretty straightforward.

Ted

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Thanx. Forgot that part. Pretty straightforward.

Ted

No problem.

99% of the time, the batter looks at me and goes, "oh... sorry!" No big deal. I've never had a batter argue with me that he somehow had a "right" to start with any part of his foot out of the box.

And mind you, I wasn't trying to split hairs here. If it looks more like 4 or 5 inches, I don't care. I have no lines, so I won't split that hair. But if his foot looks like it's only an inch or two off of the plate, then it's too obvious, and it should be corrected.

I honestly wonder if this guy suffers from some roid rage. We've had problems in the past with steroid use in the area.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

hmm seeing your location.. Tucking in a jacket isnt some southern thang is it?

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

Don't group us all in there! I think the jacket tucked in is a Baseball thang... bleeck.

No, not all baseball guys do it. Don't lump all the baseball guys together! There was a baseball thread recently where I think most, like me, thought it didn't look good. I never tuck in on the bases. Here in the northwest I saw two D1 baseball crews a couple weekends ago. On each crew, one BU tucked, one didn't. Long sleeve shirts for both PUs (which I do for baseball and softball unless it's really cold or wet, then I wear a jacket tucked in so I can get into my ball bags).

Like I said, I don't really like the look, but if you want to tuck it, whatever, no big deal. I put this debate right up there with "what color ball bag" and "6-stitch or 8-stitch?"

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

No, not all baseball guys do it. Don't lump all the baseball guys together! There was a baseball thread recently where I think most, like me, thought it didn't look good. I never tuck in on the bases. Here in the northwest I saw two D1 baseball crews a couple weekends ago. On each crew, one BU tucked, one didn't. Long sleeve shirts for both PUs (which I do for baseball and softball unless it's really cold or wet, then I wear a jacket tucked in so I can get into my ball bags).

Like I said, I don't really like the look, but if you want to tuck it, whatever, no big deal. I put this debate right up there with "what color ball bag" and "6-stitch or 8-stitch?"

ok, which is it? 6-stitch or 8-stitch?