Batter runs into pitch

[CoachRich]

Here was a play that actually occurred at PONY Nationals this year. There wasn’t a rule to cover it in PONY. I was wondering if there was a rule to cover it in ASA, or other orgs. I can’t find one.

First pitch to the first batter of the inning. She’s in the right-hander’s batter’s box. Just as the pitcher is about to release the ball, the batter sprints toward the pitcher – she is attempting to do a surprise slap from the right-hander’s box. Unfortunately, she mistimes her run, and arrives at the front of the box too early. Meanwhile, my pitcher has uncorked a wild one, sending it toward the dirt about a foot in front of the batter’s box. Just as the pitch is about to hit the dirt, well short of the batter’s box, the batter’s foot comes down under the ball. So the batter actually steps *under* the ball, just as it’s about to hit the dirt, pegging her directly on her left foot, an entire step out of the batter’s box, just after her left foot has hit the ground. The batter has not swung at the ball; she was just unable to stop her momentum before she stepped out of the box.

The home plate umpire immediately calls a dead ball, and then awards the batter first base. I appeal to the field umpire, saying that, not only did she run into the pitch that very well may not have hit her otherwise, but she also took an entire step out of the batter’s box to do it. The umpiring crew discussed the position of the batter at the time she was hit, and they then overruled and called the batter out.

After being called out, the other coach asked for an explanation of the ruling, and which rule determined that she was out instead of entitled to a base. The umpiring crew eventually decided that they were unsure of the rule, and called in the tournament UIC. The tournament UIC could not determine if there was a rule to cover this situation, and so he called National PONY Headquarters, and talked to the assistant UIC there. After much discussion, they decided that there was not a rule to cover this exact situation, and the fair thing to do would be to award a strike to the batter, and decide on an official rule later. So that’s what was done.

I have absolutely no beef with the umpires, or the ruling. In fact, everything seemed quite fairly decided to me. I’m just curious as to whether other organizations, such as ASA, have rules that cover this.

[Bretman]

There are a few of things this can't be- and during the course of changing the call back and forth they hit on a couple of them.

An out? No way! No rule calls a batter out for being hit by a pitch, even if she purposely sticks her body in front of it and allows it to hit her.

A strike? Only if: She offered at the pitch, or; She was hit in the strike zone, or; She was hit in front of the plate and prevented the pitch from entering the strike zone. None of that happened here (and a bounced pitch can never be a called strike, even if does pass through the strike zone).

When it comes to the hit batter rules, there's nothing that says a batter hit by a pitch outside the batter's box is treated any differently than one hit inside the box.

It sounds like they tried to overthink this one (or, maybe, underthunk it). All you have here is a hit batter. If the umpire judges that the batter purposely contacted the ball, or made no effort to avoid an otherwise avoidable pitch, rule the pitch a ball. Add a ball to the count and get her back to the plate.

If he judges that the contact was accidental, unavoidable or that the batter made any attempt to not be hit, award first base. In short...treat it just like any other hit batter.

[ASAPAump]

Rule 7
Batting:
Play: B2 a slap hitter, is hit by a pitched ball while out in front of the batter’s box. In a) that B2 ducks to try to avoid being hit but is still struck in the head and b) B2 is hit before having the time to avoid being hit by the pitch.
Ruling: In a) If in the umpire’s judgment the batter made an attempt to get out of the way, the umpire should award the batter 1B. In b) since the batter made no attempt to get out of the way of the pitch this would be a dead ball and keep the batter up to bat.

ASA rules apply to a hit batter in three ways. Rule 7 Section 4H and M applies if the batter swung or prevented the ball from entering the strike zone. This would be a dead ball strike, Rule 8 Section 1F: When a pitched ball not swung at nor called a strike touches any part of the batter’s person including the hands or clothing. EFFECT: Dead Ball the batter is entitled to first base without liability to be put out. EXCEPTION: If no attempt is made to avoid being hit, the batter will not be awarded 1B unless it is ball four.

ASA has always said that a pitch can fool a batter and they may not have time get out of the way. Umpires should use the thought process of the ball does not belong in the box and the benefit of doubt is given to the batter. When the batter is in front of the batter’s box the reaction time is decreased and they could be hit with the ball before they have time to react and get out of the way. In this case the umpire should use a similar thought process that the batter does not belong in front of the box and if the reaction time is reduced, the benefit of the doubt should be given to the pitcher.

So apply the rule and use common sense when determining when a batter makes an attempt to keep from getting hit, while in the box does not have time to make an attempt or while in the front of the box makes no attempt to keep from being hit. Keep in mind, it will always be a dead ball and a batter will either be awarded 1B or stay at bat with a ball added to the count.

Above is from ASA's July 2010 rule clarifications/plays.

[UmpSteve]

NCAA has an interesting take on this. A batter hit with a pitch in front of the batter's box is simply hit; and hurt. No pitch; no ball or strike, and no awarded base.

Their thinking is that the ball never became a ball or strike, since the batter kept it from reaching the plate (which is the sole location where a ball or strike can be determined). So no one gets any advantage, or even a decision; the batter gets a bruise.

[joemcq51]

It is an interesting question. I wouldn't see how it is much different than a wild pitch that a batter bails on, getting hit stepping out of the box. I would say as long as her actions were not to intentionally get hit, she be awarded first base.

[Jalamander]

and so he called National PONY Headquarters, and talked to the assistant UIC there. After much discussion, they decided that there was not a rule to cover this exact situation, and the fair thing to do would be to award a strike to the batter, and decide on an official rule later.

You've got a batter hit by a pitched ball. Follow whatever rules you have covering a hit batsman. All you gotta do is figure out whether she could have avoided the pitch or not.
Sounds more like the janitor answered the phone at the National Headquarters.

[GIMNEPIWO]

This was discussed at great length on 'the other sitez' ... and I believe that it was determined that if the batter is hit 'out of the box' in front of the dish, thusly preventing the ball from ever having the opportunity to enter, or not enter the strike zone to afford the Blue the visual needed to call the pitch a ball or a strike ... it is a 'No Pitch'

* but ASAPAumps snippet seems to say otherwise

[Bretman]

This was discussed at great length on 'the other sitez' ... and I believe that it was determined that if the batter is hit 'out of the box' in front of the dish, thusly preventing the ball from ever having the opportunity to enter, or not enter the strike zone to afford the Blue the visual needed to call the pitch a ball or a strike ... it is a 'No Pitch'

* but ASAPAumps snippet seems to say otherwise

For ASA, it doesn't just seem to say that...it really does say that!

That clarification was added to their rules (I'm guessing) around four years ago. Prior to that, there wasn't any specific guideline to cover a batter hit in front of the plate and preventing the pitch from entering the strike zone. That left this scenario open to the interpretation of the individual umpire, some of whom would call it a strike, while others would not. To help ensure even enforcement, ASA added this to their rules. NFHS followed suit and subsequently added it to their rules, too.

To be clear, for the umpire to call this a strike he must judge that the batter actually prevented the pitch from entering the strike zone. Essentially, the batter has to be hit by a pitch that would have been a strike if she had not been touched by it. Just being hit in front of the batter's box doesn't automatically equate to a strike.

As noted, NCAA does have their own take on this and it is a "no pitch". A far as I know, they are the only ones that call it that way. There are other rule sets that have not specifically addressed this in their rule book, so you may still see some uneven enforcment playing under their rules.

Regardless, if this action isn't specifically listed as one of the reasons an umpire can call a "no pitch", then it shouldn't be called a "no pitch".

[HugoTafurst]

Here was a play that actually occurred at PONY Nationals this year. There wasn’t a rule to cover it in PONY. I was wondering if there was a rule to cover it in ASA, or other orgs. I can’t find one.

First pitch to the first batter of the inning. She’s in the right-hander’s batter’s box. Just as the pitcher is about to release the ball, the batter sprints toward the pitcher – she is attempting to do a surprise slap from the right-hander’s box. Unfortunately, she mistimes her run, and arrives at the front of the box too early. Meanwhile, my pitcher has uncorked a wild one, sending it toward the dirt about a foot in front of the batter’s box. Just as the pitch is about to hit the dirt, well short of the batter’s box, the batter’s foot comes down under the ball. So the batter actually steps *under* the ball, just as it’s about to hit the dirt, pegging her directly on her left foot, an entire step out of the batter’s box, just after her left foot has hit the ground. The batter has not swung at the ball; she was just unable to stop her momentum before she stepped out of the box.

The home plate umpire immediately calls a dead ball, and then awards the batter first base. I appeal to the field umpire, saying that, not only did she run into the pitch that very well may not have hit her otherwise, but she also took an entire step out of the batter’s box to do it. The umpiring crew discussed the position of the batter at the time she was hit, and they then overruled and called the batter out.

After being called out, the other coach asked for an explanation of the ruling, and which rule determined that she was out instead of entitled to a base. The umpiring crew eventually decided that they were unsure of the rule, and called in the tournament UIC. The tournament UIC could not determine if there was a rule to cover this situation, and so he called National PONY Headquarters, and talked to the assistant UIC there. After much discussion, they decided that there was not a rule to cover this exact situation, and the fair thing to do would be to award a strike to the batter, and decide on an official rule later. So that’s what was done.

I have absolutely no beef with the umpires, or the ruling. In fact, everything seemed quite fairly decided to me. I’m just curious as to whether other organizations, such as ASA, have rules that cover this.

Remind me not to work for that PONY organization!!

[HugoTafurst]

This was discussed at great length on 'the other sitez' ... and I believe that it was determined that if the batter is hit 'out of the box' in front of the dish, thusly preventing the ball from ever having the opportunity to enter, or not enter the strike zone to afford the Blue the visual needed to call the pitch a ball or a strike ... it is a 'No Pitch'

* but ASAPAumps snippet seems to say otherwise

Was the "other sitez" an NCAA site?