Batter's box
- Thread starter CardiffBombSquad
- Start date
That's my point.
I don't ump, but if I did, and a guy moved up to the front of the box or started two stepping on his swing I'd look for it if I have time. This isn't something you have to focus on unless their behavior alerts you.
This issue irks me because I normally see it when batters are trying to throw the ump off their game and it normally works. Pitches that have been strikes all day are now suddenly deep, etc .
I don't ump, but if I did, and a guy moved up to the front of the box or started two stepping on his swing I'd look for it if I have time. This isn't something you have to focus on unless their behavior alerts you.
This issue irks me because I normally see it when batters are trying to throw the ump off their game and it normally works. Pitches that have been strikes all day are now suddenly deep, etc .
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
That's ****ing hilarious. A batter moving in the box is irrelevant, the umpire's looking at the ball. If you do have umpires are affected, you don't have any umpires.
beernbombs
Abby's dad
It's really only obvious when the batter steps on the plate or out of the box in front of the plate. The HP umpire is watching the pitch, he/she can't call an out on something they may have seen out of the corner of their eye.
Seriously, when else have you ever seen it period? With a one man crew I wouldn't expect it to be called for the reasons you and maybe Irish are stating. I really can't tell what he's saying, typos or otherwise.
Anything else and it should be really obvious. A guy stepping out of the box as he swings, stepping back towards the ump out of the box? That's going to have to be a crazy pitch and scenario. Same if he steps out on the third or fourth base side (righty our Lefty).
I've seen multiple batters step in home and it's missed because nobody thought they'd seeing at such a bad pitch. I'm not expecting mlb quality at my local field.
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
That's wrong. A single umpire isn't going to see it any less than if s/he had 5 partners.
The majority of the time a violation will occur is when reaching for a pitch. The only two other times I have call it is when a batter get's happy feet and steps behind the plate (VERY obvious) in an effort to pull the ball and out of the far side of the box when trying to lose a ball they don't want in the game.
And I have never hesitated to make this call whether at the local or national level
blakcherry329
Well-Known Member
Played in a tournament yesterday. Boxes drawn on all the fields. Midway through the first game the lines were gone, for the most part. Never had one batter that was egregiously far from the plate. It's never an issue when line are drawn, even temporarily. It's when there are no lines, and lazy umps don't even want to check, that irks me.
NCASAUmp
Un-Retired
Well, when there are no lines, the box is still there. I'll give you some leeway, but if it's dead obvious that you're out of the box, I won't hesitate to call it.
I know an umpire who once got some grief over calling a batter out for stepping out of the box where the lines were gone. He asked him, "is there a line between your house and your neighbor's?" The batter said, "no," to which he responded, "well, then how do you know where to mow the lawn?"
The lines are there, even if they aren't. It's not that hard.
I know an umpire who once got some grief over calling a batter out for stepping out of the box where the lines were gone. He asked him, "is there a line between your house and your neighbor's?" The batter said, "no," to which he responded, "well, then how do you know where to mow the lawn?"
The lines are there, even if they aren't. It's not that hard.
blakcherry329
Well-Known Member
Your attitude is the exception, not the rule, around here, unfortunately.
NCASAUmp
Un-Retired
Unfortunately, I know what you mean. It makes it harder for those of us who care to do it right, and the ones who end up getting the worst of it is you guys. We do need to be consistent out there, or else you guys get frustrated when you don't know what rules will or won't be enforced come game day.
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
Cannot happen, by rule.
Only if the ump knows how to call the strike zone properly. If they do, a regular breaking ball that just catches the outside corner is a great compliment. Sadly, they rarely do.
What funny here is that umps are split. Some will only call corners on strike three, like you'd better be ready to protect but I won't call it before. Then others will always call corners except on strike three, like they don't want to ring someone up on that. It makes no sense.
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
If it is a strike, it's a strike regardless of the count
NCASAUmp
Un-Retired
I agree. If you aren't calling it when the count is 1-1, a 3-2 count should not change that.
Actually I’ve seen both since this long ongoing discussion has been posted.
irishmafia
Addicted to Softballfans
Actually, no. By rule, the lines are to be considered part of the box regardless of the actual circumference of the BB
He hasn't seen someone put the chalk on the wrong side of their outline since this thread started? Man, you are good.