Slow pitch question
 

Had this in a league finals game earlier this week. I was BU.

Defense chose not to intentionally walk a particular batter, but clearly was giving him nothing to hit.

Now I seem to recall that once the ball hits the ground it is dead (no stealing in this league).

There's some chippiness from both teams during this particular AB, which reaches a count of 3-1. Pitcher, trying to bust filberts, rolls the ball towards HP. Batter, in return, swings at the pitch. PU made the count 3-2.

So that's where I have a question. The pitch was both illegal and dead when it hit the ground 10 feet in front of the pitcher. If the batter managed to hit this ball, would it be an illegally batted ball? Does that result in a strike anyway, or should it have been ball 4.

It turned out that the pitcher's next pitch was about 20' high and well behind the batter for ball 4.

Thanx.

How could a dead ball be illegally batted - or a strike?

There is no rule preventing the pitcher from doing this in ASA SP. Stealing is irrelevant as the runner may not steal on a pitched ball that has landed in front of or on the plate.

The batter may not legally hit a pitched ball that has touched the ground prior to reaching the plate or the plate.

This is simply a dead ball, IP, ball on the batter.

Thanx, Irish.

To clarify further. In our game, the batter did not contact the ball, but did swing. If an illegal pitch is call in SP and the batter swings, the result of the play stands, correct? In this case, call the strike and go to the next pitch.

Ted - if the ball hit the ground, it's dead. The swing never happened. The result of the illegal pith stands.

What Steve said. Once the ball hits the ground, any subsequent action by the batter, except INT if there is stealing, didn't happen.

Conflicting rules?

Effect - Sections 2-4A; 6A & 7
B. If a batter swings at or contacts any illegal pitch, it is nullified and all play stands.

7.5.B. (Slow Pitch) .... Any pitched ball that hits the ground or plate cannot be legally swung at by the batter. If the batter swings at a pitch after the ball hits the ground or plate, it is a ball.

So when the pitcher rolled the ball to the plate, which rule is in force, or do we get to pick which one we'd like to use?

Pitching rule

Batting rule:

No, you are comparing two different things. You are looking for a booger that doesn't exist.

The batting rule pertains to ANY pitch, not just an IP

Remember that in SP, any pitch that hits the ground prior to crossing the plate, and any pitch that hits the plate is a dead ball.

There is a big difference between an illegal pitch and a dead ball.

Yeah, the difference is one is an illegal pitch, and one is a dead ball. :D

Yabbut, the same pitch can be both, right?

Without stealing, unless the ball is hit to fair territory, it will become a dead ball (unless caught in foul territory). An illegal pitch can be canceled by the batter's action.

Not sure if there's a point there.

Regarding the rule we're actually talking about - there's a big difference. A dead ball is dead - if the batter hits it, it doesn't matter, it was dead. An illegal pitch, however (assuming it's also not dead) can be hit.