SP question
 

Was doing a ASA SP game the other night, pitch came in way inside, batter steps completely out of the batter box to avoid pitch, loses sight of the ball (he was talking to the catcher) and the pitch hits his bat. We looked at each other for a second and then I called it a foul ball strike.

I thought about this later and my question to you is, since the batter was compleletly out of the box when the ball hit the bat and since the batter is out if he/she hits a pitch with one foot completely out of the batter's box, should the batter have been called out?

That would be the correct call, yes. The rule book does not make any stipulations that the act must be "intentional." It just says that if the foot's completely out of the box when "the ball makes contact with the bat" (please note the very careful wording there), it's a dead ball and an out.

Correct call is out... but this is likely one of those times where making the book call is OOO.

I don't know if you noticed, but his foot was either not completely out of the box, or not on the ground at the moment of contact... :)

Thanks, Mike. I think you hit it right on the head. Probably depends on the level of play. In this case, it was a casual company league, not real high level, so, even though I thought maybe we had an out, I didn't ring him up as it would have put a damper on the game and created more problems then it was worth.

In a higher level game, I might call a strike and wait to see if the other team appealed and then would have gotten the out. In tournament play I would have to ring him up.

For the purists, I know, a rule is a rule, but one reason we umpire, which I heard in a clinic, "is to make the game better." I think this applies here.

Have to disagree. It is what it is, shame on the batter.

Many of the calls we make are not popular, but the only people on the field that decide what rules to use are those who agree to play under certain rules.

Let me ask you this: If the ball was fair, would you call him out when the team throws the ball to 1B before he reaches it, if he even runs? Would you call it an out if the catcher caught the ball in flight? If the team did not make a play and he ran to 1B would you call him safe?

There are two teams out there and they both expect you to apply the rules. It really isn't our job to make up for their stupidity no matter how anal it seems to be (and trust me, I know anal :D ).

Not making this call may very well get another umpire in trouble when the call is correctly made. We have all heard the "I played here/there and they never make that call" crap. However, sometimes I have to wonder after reading some of the posts on different boards.

Hey Irish, understand and appreciate your view on the subject.

*Cough* *Blink*

I think I just snorted some milk up my nose reading that...





:D;)

We (I) am there to facilitate an event.....if it makes sense....at that particular level.....with those particular participants...than I might help facilitate that event!

But thats just me.

Sure wish I knew what you were talking about.