Batter out of the Batter's Box

[BuggBob]

USSSA Slow-pitch, the field is not prepared with batter’s boxes (just a line from first and third ending about three feet from the plate). Super Tank Mc Cool up to bat, 2 balls no strikes, no outs, bases loaded. Inside pitch, in fact so inside that it will pass behind Super Tank. However, the old Tankster don’t want to walk (walking is for sissies), he takes three steps outside and BAMO! The ball is turned into an ellipse and screams past the third baseman for a would be double.

The instant McCool hits the ball I point to the spot his foot was when he hit the ball and call, “Dead ball! Batter is out of the box. Batter is out.”

“WHAT?! You can’t be serious!” Why is it that players think that I would take that time of the game to practice my Curly Shuffle.

Hey Moe, Hey Moe (Hey Moe, Hey Moe) nyah nyah....
But we never miss a chance, we get up and dance
doing the Curly Shuffle.

I was serious, and show Super Tank the footprint he made when contacting with the ball. He then insist, “Well show me where the rules I’m out for being out of the box when there was no box.” He further insists, “You need to draw me a box to prove I am out.”

“Well partner, the box is four feet that way,” I point towards second, “three feet this way,” hitching by thumb towards the backstop, “and three feet that way.” I shrug towards third. “That is 21 square feet of batters box you were out of when you hit that ball. Just how far do you think you were away form the plate when you hit the ball?”

His reply, “Oh about Eight to ten feet.”

“Well then unless you have five foot long feet you were out of the box. Do you have five foot long feet?” Now I am doing the curly shuffle.

Super Tank is not a think tank, he actually looks at his feet and continues to whine about no box, but leaves the field. A short time later the game is over Super Tank’s team wins by double digits, and he is still whining about being out.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

“WHAT?! You can’t be serious!”

Now is this time for whatever warning you give. "That's enough" or whatever.

Originally Posted by BuggBob

I was serious, and show Super Tank the footprint he made when contacting with the ball.

I might do this if some player asked me nicely why he was out or where his foot was... but you don't owe this guy this. No need to engage.

Originally Posted by BuggBob

He then insist, “Well show me where the rules I’m out for being out of the box when there was no box.”

Had you warned earlier, here's where he gets tossed. Without the warning, it might still be where he gets tossed. Don't let them talk to you like this.

Originally Posted by BuggBob

He further insists, “You need to draw me a box to prove I am out.”

Now it's definitely time to send him.

Originally Posted by BuggBob

“Well partner, the box is four feet that way,” I point towards second, “three feet this way,” hitching by thumb towards the backstop, “and three feet that way.” I shrug towards third. “That is 21 square feet of batters box you were out of when you hit that ball. Just how far do you think you were away form the plate when you hit the ball?”

His reply, “Oh about Eight to ten feet.”

“Well then unless you have five foot long feet you were out of the box. Do you have five foot long feet?”

Again, had the guy been nice, and had you felt you had the time for a rules clinic, I suppose explaining the dimensions of the box would be ok ... maybe. Why would any good umpire engage in this conversation, especially with someone who's being beligerent.

And if the guy doesn't let it drop after he gets the dugout and is still arguing with you later - there's ANOTHER reason to toss him.

You were WAY WAY WAY too tolerant with this guy, and it's just going to cause problem for your future men in blue.

[LMan]

Don't explain rules to players, enforce them.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by lman

don't explain rules to players, enforce them.

+1

[Dakota]

I think maybe BuggBob was just enjoying toying with ol' Super Tank Mc Cool!

[NCASAUmp]

Anyone else miss a particular mistake in the story?

Hint: deals with math.

[Welpe]

Ah AA games...I do NOT miss those.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

(snip)

Hey Moe, Hey Moe (Hey Moe, Hey Moe) nyah nyah....
But we never miss a chance, we get up and dance
doing the Curly Shuffle.

(Snip).

OK for a pat on the back....
What was the name of the group that recorded that song??????

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

OK for a pat on the back....
What was the name of the group that recorded that song??????

Something like Jump In The Saddle.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Something like Jump In The Saddle.

Yup - Somethin like.

Jump 'N the Saddle Band to be more exact.

They were a great band. Curly Shuffle kind of pegged them as a novelty act which was too bad.

I was a big fan of theirs in the mid to late 70's.
I've got a few "I knew them when" stories.

Now that I think about it, I was listening to them before I even knew they made softballs smaller than 16" in diameter!