Stepping on the Plate
 

ASA SP Coed Rec. Home team at bat, bottom of 6th, down by many runs, two outs and time is about to expire (less than one minute). Coach yells at batter to step on home plate when the ball is pitched to become the third out. How would you handle this? In my mind, I want to call USC for intentionally stepping on the plate and intentionally violating the rules (as well as calling the out, of course). What would you do?

I was told, "That's just the way this league plays and we have to deal with it."

There is no violation to call, unless the batter makes contact with the pitched ball while standing on the plate.

If they step on the plate before the pitch, then you don't allow the pitch until the batter is back in the batter's box.

Either way, there is nothing to call here, at least as written.

We had a similar situation in a FP game. Bottom of 5 in a timed game. Home is down by 3 with two outs and a runner on 2B. Coach yells to R1 to step off of 2B so they can get to the next inning.

It was suggested that this would fall under the unsportsmanlike rules. I was a little ambivolent, as I 'understood' the strategy taking place.

I thought it would be a little more 'pruden't to be covert about the instruction. Maybe a signal. Maybe ask for an offensive conference and instruct the runner.

Sometimes defense is the best offense. In my case and the OP, it appears that getting to the next inning was more prudent than observing the spirit of the rules.

But, the OP, if properly called, wouldn't have done a thing to get them to the next inning.

Your case is something totally different. In your case, there WAS an infraction of the rules. i.e. the runner leaving before the release of the pitch. That results in an out being called and subsequently, a new inning.

Ah, I see it now. A combination of 7-3-E and 7-6-E come into play here.
The batter is not permitted to step out of the batter's box to stop play, unless time has been granted (umpire determines strike or ball). And, the batter is out if any part of the foot touches the plate when the ball contacts the bat.

So, as the batter was stepping on the plate, the pitch struck the batter on the left forearm. In the umpire's best judgment, the pitch should be declared a ball or strike, and the clock continues to run as the batter is directed to step back in the box.

True. I was just suggesting that there might be a better way to get the out and the new inning other than shouting out to a player to violate a rule.

Would this be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game"?

5.4.E anyone?

If it's SP, and we're in the bottom of 6th with only a few seconds left, chances are that the 7th would be pretty quick. I'd let it go. I might say something to the coach for hollering during the pitch, however.

Would a QB be penalized for running out the clock in football, or for spiking the ball, or for attempt a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime?

If the league / organization / teams have introduce a clock into the game, then why should the teams be penalized for "managing" that clock?

Because the rule book says so?:rolleyes:

Aaahhhhh.....no. It is 7.3.A & C

There is no rule preventing the batter from stepping out of the box.

Would what be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game?"

Stepping on the plate is no tactic, period. There is no penalty for it, unless the batter makes contact with the ball. If they hit it with the bat, then we have a dead ball and an out. If it hits them, then it will be dead ball and either a strike or a ball depending on whether or not I judge it to be in the zone.

Oh, I'd have to say that it was a tactic. Maybe not a useful or effective tactic. But not all tactics are useful or effective.

Okay, it is a very poor tactic, but it certainly isn't a tactic designed to hasten or delay anything!

Obviously, just stepping on the plate, in and of itself, isn't illegal. But let's change it up a bit. Suppose that in this same situation the coach instructed a player to:

- Purposely step on the plate and hit the ball- and he did.

- Purposely leave a base before the pitch reached the plate- and he did.

Now what do you do? :confused: