Hbp
 

Can anyone in this forum tell me of a rule set OTHER THAN ASA, which requires the batter to attempt to get out of the way of a pitch? This weekend it caused trouble every time a girl got hit.

These girls are used to HS/NCAA where they do not have to move, and when told to stay in the box, they really do not like it.

I do not care whether or not they like it, but to explain that ASA is different from every other rule set, got old quickly.

This is not an accurate statement. Both rule sets do still in fact require the batter to attempt to avoid the pitch unless the ball is completely within the batters box.

NCAA baseball tried the same rule for a few years and this year just went back to requiring the attempt to avoid. After all the uproar this year in NCAA softball and the record HBP numbers, especially Florida, I have heard it is on the rule committees agenda for discussion and a revisit.

It seems that this was an issue since it's inception. There is nothing wrong with ASA's view on this rule as it is. HS/NCAA which their rules. ASA has had the same rule for decades.

The NCAA teams have begun using the HBP as a strategy and have damn near armor plated some batters in anticipation of being hit by a pitch. Again, the coach-driven rules may be good or the coaches, but not necessarily good for the game.

It really didnt take a lot to figure out as soon as they changed the rule coaches and batters were going to attempt to use it as a free pass. While I dont do college ball, obviously everyone has seen the result on the televised games. And on the high school level, as soon as the rule was changed I noticed a huge increase in the number of batters with their toes right on the edge of the inside batters box lines.

Call me a simple old man...but if the pitch is not where it is supposed to be (in the box), and the batter IS.... she should not have to get out of the way. The elbows hanging out over the plate are a little different.

And I would completely agree IF the rule was being called as it is written. But it is not and we have all seen the batters hanging elbows and knees into the river and getting beaned on purpose. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen the umpire actually make the batter stay and continue the at bat.

Simple old man.

[QUOTE=RKBUmp;963998]This is not an accurate statement. Both rule sets do still in fact require the batter to attempt to avoid the pitch unless the ball is completely within the batters box.

Not true for NFHS.

[QUOTE=Cliffdweller;964032]Semantically correct; the batter is not required to attempt to avoid any pitched ball. However, 7.3.2 PENALTY makes clear that the batter should only be awarded the base if the ball is completely in the batter's box, UNLESS she is attempts to avoid.

So, she doesn't have to avoid; it's just a dead ball ball or a dead ball strike, not an awarded base.

[QUOTE=Cliffdweller;964032]Exactly how is it not true for nfhs when the penalty portion of the rule specifically states the batter is not awarded 1st base if no attempt to avoid a pitch not entirely in the batters box?

Whether the statement are Correct or Incorrect, the ASA Rule states that the batter must make an attempt to avoid the pitch. When the ball is in the box, and hits the girl square on the hip, and she did not try to get out of the way, but instead watched it hit her, which she has done for the past 3 months of playing, it causes head aches.

Should only be a problem long enough to tell the coach they should be aware of the rule set they are playing under.

The problem is the wording of the ASA rule. If a batter freezes because a ball is coming at her at 65 mph, ASA's rule says she doesn't get first. The interpretation would have to be that she does though because not all batters can in fact get out of the way. If you couldn't get out of the way as an umpire, how the hell is a batter to get out of the way? As written, the ASA doesn't permit common sense to be applied.

You'll certainly get into more trouble leaving hit batters in the batter's box then giving them first base.

Not relevant to the rule.

The batter is allowed to move while the pitch is in flight.