Standing out of the box

[crazyaboutcoues]

This happen Saturday

R1, Batter is clearly standing out of the box towards the catcher when the Pitch is delivered (I didn't notice it until the catcher told me to look). As the pitch made it's way to the plate he took two steps that put him in the box when contact was made with the ball. I called him out and returned the runner to first. I'm second guessing the call...:HD:

[Mr Umpire]

He should not be called out since he was in the box when contact was made. However, the pitch should have never happened. If you noticed it before the pitch was made, you should instruct the batter to get in the box. He is to have both feet entirely in the box before the pitcher delivers the pitch. What he does after the pitcher begins his delivery doesn't matter as long as he was in before the pitcher began his delivery.

So, you shouldn't have called him out. You should have instructed him to get in the box before the pitch. Then, what he does after that is up to him.

[noumpere]

This happen Saturday

R1, Batter is clearly standing out of the box towards the catcher when the Pitch is delivered (I didn't notice it until the catcher told me to look). As the pitch made it's way to the plate he took two steps that put him in the box when contact was made with the ball. I called him out and returned the runner to first. I'm second guessing the call...

You're right to second guess the call.

The batter must be entirely in the box at the time of the pitch. If you don't notice it before hand, it's too late to correct.

Since the batter didn't have one foot entirely out of the box when he hit the ball, the hit was legal.

[crazyaboutcoues]

Dang it, I hate it when that happens.

Thanks for the replies...I'll put that down in the ol memory bank for future reference. :HD: