bat hit by pitch

[calablue]

Had this situation last night in 11/12 yr olds. Batter ducks to avoid being hit by pitch but leaves his bat up in the air and the ball hits the bat. Then I blew it. I immediately called FOUL BALL! Fortunately for me, nobody but me realized (too late) that the ball bounced off the bat and into fair territory (like a very weak bunt), never touching the batter. The pitcher walked up and picked the ball up, batter got back in the box, and on we went. Now the reason I posted this is to get some input on what would be the correct way to handle the following situation: Suppose the same situation takes place and I don't call FOUL BALL, but make the right call by pointing to fair territory several times to indicate that this is a fair ball. These kids, coaches, and parents all thought this was a foul ball because the batter was trying to get out of the way when the ball hit the bat. What would you do if tne batter didn't run and nobody tried to make a play? Is it time to announce that this is a fair ball aloud?

[mstaylor]

Just stand there pointing fair. You may have to show the point more than once. If they absolutely refuse to figure it out then you may have to resort a low," It's a live ball guys."

[calablue]

That's what I thought too. I'm sure I'm going to see something like this here again. Thanks

[carolinablue]

It never ceases to amaze me how much this actually happens, especialy in LL games. If you tried to do it, you couldn't.:home:

[JamesC]

Yea, these types of things seem to happen all the time around here, even in high school. You would think by that age the players would have enough sense to pull the bat down with them, but I guess that is always easier said than done. Like mstaylor said though, I would just stand there pointing fair ball. Whatever you do, make sure you aren't directly behind the plate, and make sure you are out from where you would normally be standing waiting for the next pitch. Usually (and I mean usually, but not all the time) when the players realize that the umpire isn't where they "normally" are, they understand that something else needs to be done. Who knows though?!

[Umpire in Chief]

I had an "adult" league game where the batter swings and drills the ball into the plate it bounces up and lands just a few inches infront of the plate. The batter did nothing and the catcher grabbed the ball and tagged the batter still in the box. I call the out.

Then comes the temper tantrum. I got to hear about this guys supposed minor league career and how he knows the rules .

I actually had my trigger finger ready but the on deck batter came and rodeo clowned him away and told him I was right.

[chuck]

LL Jrs. I'm in 1B coacing box. Not umpire. R1, less that 2 strikes. R1 running on pitch batter swings, foul tip. Signalled and hammered as a strike by PU. Someone, not sure who, yells foul ball. R1 now R2 starts trotting back toward 1st. I'm yelling to get back on the bag, he's yelling but he tipped it... Finally he gets back to 2nd before the tag. DC call time and starts yelling it's a foul ball to me, because I'm closer, I guess. I said no, it's a foul tip, live ball. He says, but it's not the 3rd strike. And he's coached for a long time...

[catoblue]

LL Jrs. I'm in 1B coacing box. Not umpire. R1, less that 2 strikes. R1 running on pitch batter swings, foul tip. Signalled and hammered as a strike by PU. Someone, not sure who, yells foul ball. R1 now R2 starts trotting back toward 1st. I'm yelling to get back on the bag, he's yelling but he tipped it... Finally he gets back to 2nd before the tag. DC call time and starts yelling it's a foul ball to me, because I'm closer, I guess. I said no, it's a foul tip, live ball. He says, but it's not the 3rd strike. And he's coached for a long time...

Classic Myth that a foul tip is a foul ball except on the 3rd strike. Our League started publishing a "Rules Myths" section of the website to try to help get a few more people on the right page. This is one of the Myths, along with HBP after the pitched ball hits the ground and "hands are part of the bat". It's fun to read, but sad to still have coaches insisting that these things are in the rules.

[mazzamouth]

this same play happen to me in a DII game last year the batter saw the pitch high and inside and starts to move toward 1st base, well pitch came up and in, hit the knob of the bat and rolled about 7 feet in fair territory, I just moved a little out to the side of the catcher, the batter and catcher all stood there looking, and about 10 sec later the pitcher saw me looking at the ball and ran up and touched it, I then pointed fair....LOL funny play, easy out.

[ukce1861]

I had an "adult" league game where the batter swings and drills the ball into the plate it bounces up and lands just a few inches infront of the plate. The batter did nothing and the catcher grabbed the ball and tagged the batter still in the box. I call the out.

Sr. Softball LL game. R1. Batter drills one straight down into the plate, it bounces about 15' straight up in the air (we have trampolines for plates). Batter turns out of the box and takes a practice swing. Catcher catches the ball and fires to 1st - one out - 1B tags the runner lazily returning - two out... 3rd base coach argues it was foul, it hit the plate. Shut him down, so the 1st base coach says, "You should have yelled fair"...:D