Originally Posted by KJUmp (Post 846615)

Meaning the shoulder to knee strike zone the pitcher would be pitching to in a game played without the strike mat?

Originally Posted by CecilOne (Post 846559)

Oh, "defensive player positioned near the rubber ", like t-ball! :rolleyes: :p :D

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA (Post 846569)

Played in an intramural league at PJC (Larry's knows what that is) and they allowed two pitches from you own player. Real simple, hit or sit. No count, no walks, no strike outs.

The games were great and competition good even for an intramural league.

Defense would put a player behind the pitcher, if they wanted. Pitcher couldn't touch the ball or get in the way, automatic out. Loved it!

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu (Post 846544)

Interesting. The dynamics of hitting back through the box might change. What if the pitcher, after fielding a hard one-hopper, throws the ball over the dugout?

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu (Post 846540)

I searched but didn't find much except proposed rule changes.

One of our men's slow pitch league will be having a 1 week trial run with a strike mat. I don't suppose that's such a big deal.

I think the bigger deal is that they still want a ball that hits the plate to be called a ball. I find this to be counter-productive. Don't leagues that use the mat typically have anything that hits the combination of plate/mat called as a strike [assuming height requirements are met]?

I'd say they are looking for more consistency in how our guys are calling pitches, particularly deep balls.

I still think the slow pitch strike zone is just the goofiest thing... Hit the dang ball, Bubba!

Originally Posted by Umpteenth (Post 846624)

I played in a similar league, geez it's been 30 years ago. (That can't be right! 30? Really?!) 2 pitches, pitch to your own. Anything hit over the fence was an out, so you had to put the ball in play.

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu (Post 846718)

Also amended pitch height to 6 to 12 feet. Guess the pitchers feel threatened with balls coming back at them if the restriction is 10 feet. But most of them don't live in the 10 to 12 foot range consistently. They throw as many flat pitches as they do over 12 feet. But if they feel safer, so be it.