I would have put money on the fact that this is a rule somewhere, but I can't find it in my rule book. I call Dixie, but I'm interested in the rule from any code.

The batter has 1 minute from the 'batter-up' call to take her place in the batters box, correct? Effect is a strike is called on the batter.

Is this all in my head, or in a rule book somewhere?


Thanks!

I love questions that answer themselves. I did get it wrong, but not in the way I thought...
From the Dixie rule book:
" (E) — The batter must take her position within one (1) minute after the umpire has called “Play ball.”
EFFECT: 7:01 (E) — The ball is dead. The batter is out."



That's pretty harsh.

Not sure for Dixie, but in NFHS it is 20 seconds.

Rule 7 S3 A1 Penalty

glen

And a strike, not an out.

To elaborate on this, we had a good game going last night, home team was down by one. Time limit had run out in the top of the inning. Visitors finish their turn at bat and take the field. The pitcher takes her 5 pitches, catcher throws down, and I call batter up.

Minute goes by, still no batter. Coaches are trying to figure out who should be at bat. Minute and a half, and I call a strike on the batter. She finally showed up about 2 minutes late.

There were already folks complaining about how I was cheating the team by calling a strike on her, and how I was just trying to get home early. I can't imagine the uproar if I had called her out like I should have.

I guess that's where I got the idea that the penalty was a strike.

I was honestly surprised to read that the penalty in Dixie was an out.

CecilOne,

True, but I did quote correct rule, which did state
strike. Sorry if I implied out. http://www.mansun-nl.com/smilies/doh.gif

glen

The ASA rule is 7-3-B, the batter has 10 seconds, and the penalty is a called strike. The ball is also dead. Unlike the stepping out of the box rule (7-3-C), ASA does not give the option of a warning.

Just to add to the discussion, and so we can all be a little more rules saavy, USSSA allows 20 seconds for the batter to take their position in the batters box. Penalty is a strike.

Scott

How long does the batter have if the umpire has not called "play ball", if perhaps the umpire has called time because he is issuing a jewelry warning?

I ask this question facetiously because in another thread on "making up rules", it was stated emphatically that the ball did not have to be in play to call a penalty strike.

The "clock" on the batter starts with "batter up."

I agree, but just can't understand how one could, instead of saying "batter up", say "go to your dugout and take off your jewelry" while at the same time giving oneself the right to enforce a penalty not meant for the jewelry infraction.

Really not a big deal. I just have this thing about umpires that want to make up or twist rules to somehow use them for enforcement in ways other than what they were intended. It often shows how the particular umpire wants to be bigger than the game and be a ruler instead of an arbitrator.

I agree. This guy did seem to be over the top. But I still say he was within the rule.

"batter up"
(batter with jewelry show up)
"coach, we need a batter without jewelry - batter up"
(wait 10+ second)
"strike"

Again, not proper umpiring; but not making up rules, either. (IMO)