Umpire Question

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Reading a post recently on batter's box, dimensions and such.. What exactly is the rule on batter's being called out for hitting the ball out of the box? In my experience, I have seen this rule broken a lot and very rarely called. Now on a few occasions, I was told that the box was drawn backwards and I understood that. But on a couple of occasions the girl was clearly too far forward and there was no call. I am resepctable of umpires and I have simply asked them on why. Some times they just don't see it and another reason was because no lines were drawn.

If there are no lines, can this still be called? Also can a field umpire make this call if they see it?

It just seems to me that this is not a very popular call to make and slappers and power hitters facing slower pitching take advantage of this?

I just thought I would see how umpires see it and what others might think

 

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crush1 i too would like to see this called more, but you have to remember the only rule that really matters is the one about a pitcher "crow hopping".

 

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Keep in mind the whole foot has to be totally out of the batter's box during contact. Many do not understand this. Even if the heel is slightly on the white line you are still in the box. I have seen many parents yelling she is out of the box and have no idea how the rule reads. Keep in mind the umpire is trying to call balls and strikes, hard to watch the feet.

 

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Two years ago, our high school team went down to Kentucky to play some games during spring break. The very first venue we went to, the field was in great condition and all, but when we went out to meet with the umpires, I asked them if perhaps the ground crew forgot to chalk the batter's box and I got an "oh, we don't need batter's boxes down here". We kind of chuckle about it and all, but in the first inning, our 3rd hitter comes up with her back foot even with the middle of the plate, and the umpire tells her she's out of the box! This player by the way, has never been called before or since for that. So the long answer to one of your questions is yes, out of the box can be called if there are lines, and in fact, maybe even more so!

 

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Read the thread on catching up to the fastball...a lot of information is in there especiallly about the box dimensions.

SBFAMILY is correct about the foot could be out however the heel still touching the line and being allowed or legal.

Whately is an expert at slapping and practices hitting her mark so she could do it blind folded.

Larry Ray who gave a presentation on slapping at the NFCA was being very candid when he stated, "The umpires job is to call balls and strikes first and most loose their focus on if the hitters foot is engaged properly as to the batters box....because most dimensions are incorrect or were never laid out." Exploit this weakness to your advantage with your slappers per Larry Ray.

I think that sums it up in my opinion

Howard

 

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I watched a HS game last week in which the umpire seem obsessed with the batters box.... He halted play at numerous times to measure off the box which wasn't chalked down. He measured it by walking it off. :-? Apparently in the first inning prior to my arrival one of the coaches had complained. I've never seen batters boxes chalked down in this league. Found it pretty annoying and would think if that big an issue is going to be made of it that they would require the boxes be there.

 

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What exactly is the rule on batter's being called out for hitting the ball out of the box?

If the batter contacts the pitch and, at the same time, at least one of her feet is touching the ground entirely outside the batter's box, then the ball is dead and the batter is out.

It doesn't matter if the ball goes fair or foul. The contact alone is enough to get the call.

If any portion of the foot is still touching the line, that is not considered as "out of the box". The entire foot must be outside the lines and on the ground to make this call.

A batter may contact the ball while in the process of stepping out of the box, with her foot still in the air, then have her foot land outside of it after the ball has left the bat. That is not a violation. The foot being on the ground and the contact with the bat must happen at the same time.

If there are no lines, can this still be called?

Even if the lines are not chalked, all of the same rules governing the batter's box still apply. In these cases the umpire should extend every benefit of the doubt to the batter. The call should only be made on a gross and obvious violation- if at all.

Also can a field umpire make this call if they see it?

It's the plate umpire's call to make. The base umpire will be, depending on the situation, anywhere from 75-85 feet away from home plate. The plate umpire is about 4 feet away. As with any call, the plate umpire has the right to consult with the base umpire after the play to see if his partner saw something that he did not. But the distance between the base umpire and the plate makes it impractical for him to make this call.

Both umpires have priorities on every pitch- the ball/strike call, the fair/foul call, runners leaving early, illegal pitch calls, a hit batter, etc. Admittedly, the batter's foot being outside the box is low on the priority list. Here again, only an obvious and blatant vilation should be called.

 

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Thanks for your replies.. thank you Bretman I was pretty sure about the rule, I just wanted to get an exact..

Coach K.