Hitting and Hitters Discussion batter's box dimensions

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Okay, I have a dumb question and since I don't have a rule book here with me at work, I figured I would ask all of you. What are the dimensions of the batters boxes and how are they set in relationship to home plate? Thanks for your help.

 

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From the USSSA rulebook (same everywhere):

The batters box shall be 7 feet long. The front of the batters box shall be 4 feet forward from the center of home plate and 3 feet wide starting 6 inch from the plate.

 

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Few umpires refer to it anyhow. ?This weekend we faced teams that were 6-12 inches infront of the "drawn" box when they completed thier swings and not one umpired called it the entire weekend.
(and the box was pretty true)

If you check any rule book, nsa, asa, pony there is a field layout that will show you the correct dimensions and location to lay it out.

 

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This weekend we faced teams that were 6-12 inches infront of the "drawn" box when they completed thier swings and not one umpire called it the entire weekend.

Based solely on that sentence, you don't have enough information to tell us if there were actually any infractions to be penalized. "When their swings were completed" is not the deciding factor on this call.

Did the batter actually contact the ball? If not, no infraction.

If the batter contacted the ball, was her foot already planted outside the box at the moment of contact? The foot may be in the air, heading outside the box, contact made, then land outside the box after the contact, legally and without penalty.

Also, if any portion of the foot is touching any portion of the lines, that is not an infraction. In can look like the whole foot is out, but if even a fraction of an inch of the batter's heel is touching the line she is legal.

Not to say that the umpire wasn't missing this call, but I often find that teams complaining about batter's being out of the box do not fully understand the rule.

Another one to watch for- I often see fields marked were the box is either drawn backwards (extending three feet forward, instead of four) or that are marked with a baseball-sized box (six feet long by four feet wide).

 

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thanks cshilt! question answered perfectly!!!

 

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Well Spoken Bretman: Many fans have no idea of the rules and are yelling at blue that the batter is out of the batters box. With all the drag bunters being taught to step to the front part of the box as they make contact many fans, get this rule confused. You see many intentionally erase the lines, kick dirt, so that they can take advantage of the box. It's tough for blue to see any line after 2 innings. It becomes a judgement call.

 

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Had an ump warn the other team for erasing the line of the batter's box and give the girl a strike for doing so. He said that it was a point of emphasis this year. Is that the correct penalty?

 

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Is that the correct penalty?

Yes- as long as you're playing under high school (NFHS) or college (NCAA) rules. This rule does not apply to ASA, NSA, USSSA, etc.

 

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Thanks bretman, and yes was completely out of box (no part touching) and the ball was hit. Brought it up very nicely after the pitcher took a line drive on the shin, he said he would watch. Then one of my other coaches who did not know I had already spoke with the plate umpire concerning it, brought it up again when he noticed it as well.
Grant you he was an older gentleman and we had many other questionable calls, strike zoned change every couple innings, and we had him three games in a row behind the plate.
I must say though that it went both ways which is why I never complained too much about that, but it was frustrating for the players and coaches on both teams.

I do have a couple other questions if you could clarify as one could be a judgement also.

Both these situations happen in the same game at different times in the same tournament. (not the same umpire as above as it was the first game we had of the day)

Situation 1.
Ball hit to centerfield, batter runner got a double, the ball was in the hands of the centerfielder, the umpire called "time-out" as she threw to second base and a tag was put on as the running moved off the base. Ball NEVER was returned to the pitcher. I asked how a time out could be called when the ball was never returned. The answer was the batter-runner was "brushing herself off".
I've always taught my runners to stay put in sliding position, raise their hand and wait for time to be called before getting up (and umpires have commented on that about our team)

Situation v2.
Runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, ball popped up deep behind 2nd basemen in grass area. Runner on 2nd held at a couple steps until ball was clearly not to be caught then attempted to reached 2nd but was thrown out for second out, runner on 3rd scored.
Before the next pitch was thrown, the home plate umpire called time to talk with the field umpire. They decided it was a "infield fly" runner was out at 1st for the third out. I asked why and how it was infield fly, I was coaching firstbase at the time and NEVER heard nor did the opposing team in the dugout beside me. There was not a person that heard an infield fly called.
Then I asked how a fly behind the infielder in the grass was a routine play, it was clearly not. Oh and we did get the run that scored either.

We won the game but was still very confused about it all as I am usually pretty good about checking and familiarizing myself with the various associations rules.
(one of the two umpires said it was only his second 12u game, I told him that didn't matter the rules are the same) Trust me I was not heated and explained I was only asking for my own clarification and understanding as to their calls. Although my parents or other coaches might have wanted me to push it, but I didn't see the point, and it would possibly make things worse.

 

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Situation 1) Calling "time" at inappropriate times is an example of poor game management skills. Time should never be called when there is continuous action, with runners advancing or before fielders have returned the ball to the pitcher.

Situation 2) If I was the coach of the offensive team on this play, I would have pressed this point with the umpires: THIS IS NOT AN INFIELD FLY SITUATION!

With runners on first and third, no matter how many outs, the IFR is not in effect. Result of the play should have been runner from third scores, runner from first out, batter-runner on first base.

The IFR can be called retroactively, though it is something that an umpire should avoid. If the umpire fails to initially call the IFR, and the offense is put in jeopardy due to a lack of a timely call, the umpires may place runners or call outs to rectify any confusion caused by their late call.

But this can only be done on plays where the IFR was actually in effect- and this play wasn't one of them! If protests were allowed in this game, your coach would have a protestable misapplication of a rule and this protest would be 100% winnable.

If this was an IFR situation (runners on first and second, or bases loaded, with less than two outs) a pop-up behind second might or might not qualify as an infield fly. That part is judgement on the part of the umpires. The fact that the ball was on the grass is irrelevant. If the ball can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, it can be on the grass.

Since that aspect of the rule is purely judgement, it's hard to say if this batted ball would have fit the definition of an infield fly, even with the requirement of which base the runners started out on being met. If the fielder had time to settle under the ball, but misjudged it or dropped it, maybe an infield fly. If the fielder was running for the ball, or had her back turned to the infield going out for it, maybe not.

All in all, it sounds like you had some inexperienced officials for this game.

 

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Thanks Bretman, at least I know I have not totally lost my mind yet, but I truly hated to make a scene, especially in front of the players. I had enough of a hard time calming the players, other coaches and parents down as it was.

As I said it was clearly not an IFF, the 2nd basemen was turned with back to field, running toward right field and the rightfielder was coming in but quit to avoid collision.

Thanks again for clarification. The kicker was the umpires continuing to the next batter, calling time before the first pitch, having a conference together, then making the decision.

 

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Forget F4 running out, the ball being in the grass, the next batter coming up, the umpires conferencing and the batter being called out- none of that should have been an issue.

Again, with runners on first and third, the Infield Fly Rule is NOT in effect!

When I am coaching, I show a lot of respect toward the umpires. But if this call went against my team I'm requesting time, asking for an explanation, then pleading my case as strongly- and respectfully- as I can because this call is flat-out wrong.

When the IFR is or isn't in effect is a basic rule that any minimally umpire should have a grasp of.

 

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thanks again, you are the man to go to for quick answers.
Do you have a hot line for emergencies ?;D
As I said, it did not change the outcome of the game as we were up by alot. ?I didn't see a point in making a scene because it was obvious with my quick response that it was not going to change the case. ?They were quick to be defensive as it happened AFTER the "called time out" which I could not convince them was wrong and almost got charged on that one for questioning. ?If the score would have been reversed I WOULD have taken action with the TD immediately.
The ump also said he was not used to dealing with assistant coaches, unfortunately he did not realize that I was the manager.
Again Thanks !!
Joni