fastpitchdad05 wrote:fastpitchdad05 wrote:It's what I always suspected...MTR never actually played sports, which is why he umps. What else could explain him not knowing what pepper is?
slapperdad wrote:Far be it for me to speak on MTR's behalf, but I'm pretty sure the word "pepper" doesn't appear in the rule book. Officials have to rule on the game based on the rule book and it's definitions.
Hi Slapperdad,
The OP stated that the ball was hit foul in the air toward the on-deck batter in the on-deck circle and the on-deck batter "peppered" the ball (swung her bat and hit the ball into the fence) behind her.
Again, I do not know how the rule reads on this, but I would think even if it was unintentional that there should be a rule against the on-deck batter interfering in this manner.
Thanks,
FPDad05
I totally get the context man, and follow the discussion. As we've found out MTR did in fact know what pepper is, as I'm sure all of us do. However, in his explanation of his ruling, officials don't have the luxury of using language that isn't in the rule book. Let me try this another way, I'm a veteran Football official. The word "lateral" is often thrown about by players, coaches, and fans. Under NF and NCAA code (unless it's changed I have not worked college in several years) there is no term/definition of the word "lateral" with regards to a backward pass. We have two kinds of passes, forward and backward, each with their own distinct definition. So even though in a discussion the term lateral may be thrown out there, my explanation is bound by the rule book, which does not contain that word.
Rest assured, there is a rule against the on-deck batter interfering with a hit ball.
Under NF code:
2-2-2 . . . Batted Ball. A batted ball is any pitch that comes in contact with the bat. Contact may result in a fair or foul ball and need not be intentional.
2-32-1 . . .Interference is an act (physical or verbal) by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder; or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline.
7-5-4 . . . The on-deck batter shall not commit interference with the defensive team.
PENALTIES: (Art. 4)
2. When the interference is with a fair batted or foul fly ball, the batter is out. When, in the judgment of the umpire, the interference prevented a possible double play, the runner closest to home shall also be declared out. Other runners return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
No use of the word "pepper", yet the rule book covers it nicely. This was the point I was trying to make regarding MTR's comment about not knowing what pepper is.
The original poster stated this was a CIF game. I have no idea what code CIF plays with, I took a stab that it was NF. Your mileage may vary.