I had a situation come up twice this weekend. In both cases, the hitter went after an outside pitch and stepped in front of the plate to hit the pitch. In the first one, the whole foot wasn't in front of the plate but in my judgement, the whole foot would have been out of the batter's box or at least close to it. In the second one, the batters shoe print was about 99% in front of the plate. There may have been half an inch that didn't break the plane of the plate. This one was blatant that his whole foot was out of the box. Both umpires told me that "They have been told not to call that unless it's the entire foot in front of the plate." I have always been under the understanding that the rule was if your whole foot is out of the batters box upon contact with the ball, it would be ruled a dead ball and batter is out.
Is there a different circumstance or application of this rule when it comes to in front of the plate? Also, I was wondering about if the foot touches the plate but still has part of the foot in the batters box, what's the call on this? I thought I remember a rule being in place that the plane of the plate went on infinitely so that if any part of a foot broke that plane, they would be out. I could be way wrong on that, so don't quote me on that one.
I am just looking for clarification and wondered if the umpire had any basis in saying that the whole foot had to be in front of the plate?
Is there a different circumstance or application of this rule when it comes to in front of the plate? Also, I was wondering about if the foot touches the plate but still has part of the foot in the batters box, what's the call on this? I thought I remember a rule being in place that the plane of the plate went on infinitely so that if any part of a foot broke that plane, they would be out. I could be way wrong on that, so don't quote me on that one.
I am just looking for clarification and wondered if the umpire had any basis in saying that the whole foot had to be in front of the plate?