Out of the Batter's Box

[Mudder]

Most associations in my area don't chalk the batter's boxes, they chalk the foul lines only. Its always been a pet peeve of mine and I've complained about it in the past but to no avail.

Did a game the other night, 14-15 Yr Olds, elite level baseball. I'm PU, I notice a couple of batters on the VT are setting up very deep in the batter's box, probably out of the box, but with no batter's boxes chalked I'm usually very liberal when it appears they're setting up outside the box.

But this one tall kid, probably 6"3 and lanky, comes up and he's got a very wide stance, and I notice his back foot is way out of the back of the box. I say nothing. His 2nd at bat, again same thing, and with every strike on him he moves farther back in the box. He's pushed the catcher to the back of the catchers box which pushes me back as well, to the point where I don't think I've ever set up that far behind the plate before. With no batter's box Iines if I had to guess he was 8-12" out of the box. I don't know if he's trying to set up a catcher interference situation, or he's just that stupid he dosn't know where the back of the box is, or does not care.

He foul's off a 2-2 pitch. I finally take off my mask and call him out for being out of the box and making contact with the ball. VT coach comes out screaming "how's he supposed to know where the box is if there's no lines?" He goes off for a bit but his basic argument was if he stepped out of the box when striding to hit a pitch he can accept the call, but if he is setting up out of the box I should be giving him some indication he's out. I say no I'm not his coach he should be aware where the box is, and I re-iterate and say he was "WAY" out, not even close.

Usually with the smaller kids, who have no idea where the box is, I will let them know by digging in a line with my foot or something, etc..But at this age and level, they should know.

Of course after this I kept hearing "make sure you're in the batter's box" from the VT's bench, which I quickly stopped.

With no lines should I have let the batter know he was setting up out of the box? Does the coach have a valid argument?

[scrounge]

while technically correct, a discreet preventative "dude, move up a bit" may have been in order, even at this level

[Thunderheads]

Why not alert the coaches during the pregame about the box, .."have your guys be mindful that there are no lines, etc etc" .... nip it before something happens

[JaxRolo]

Sometimes I will take the bat count 3 feet from the middle of the Plate and draw my own line

[24sdad]

I have a couple problems with this. First, there are no lines (not your fault). How can you enforce this if the batter has nothing to "guide" himself by? Either have them chalk it (and it sounds like they won't), make your own line or do nothing until the league decides to do the correct thing.

Now, calling him out for STARTING out of the box is incorrect. Especially if there are no lines.

Assuming OBR:

6.03 The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet within the batter’s box. APPROVED RULING: The lines defining the box are within the batter’s box.

MLBUM - When the batter assumes a batting stance in the batter's box, he shall have both feet entirely within the batter's box, i.e. no part of either foot may extend beyond the outer edge of the lines defining the box when the batter assumes a position in the box. There is no penalty specified for violation other than the batter shall be instructed to stay within the batter's box if brought to the attention of the umpire, or - if blatant or recurring violation - upon immediate direction of the umpire. If a player, after so directed by the umpire, blatantly refuses to comply, the player is subject to ejection.

Get him within the box before you allow a pitch, not after 1 1/2 at bats and then calling him out after he makes contact (after you allowed him to begin his AB illegally).

6.03 and 6.06 are two different rules.

[UmpJM]

mudder,

If the batter sets up outside the box it's your job to correct him and make him set up inside the box.

That's not coaching, it's umpiring. Coach had a legitimate reason to be upset with you for calling his batter out when you didn't do your job.

JM

[johnnyg08]

Tell him to move up. Problem solved.

[umpcoachfather]

what do you do if there are no foul lines cause it rained? Enforce it and you must state at the pregame " Look there are no boxes here, so tell your guys to watch their at bat, its going to be my judgement if they are out or not"

[Umpire in Chief]

Without lines I hate this. If you believe he's out tell him. Personally I wouldn't have gotten the out, but you are fully within the rules to do so.

[ring-em-up12]

I know its probly park ball and no one but the umps are concerned about them, but isn't the batters box required for the field of play to be legal? Same as foul lines and a running lane?

[Jocko]

Not necessarily. If you have say 5 games on Saturday, theyre not gonna reline the field between every game. I personally refuse to draw lines because I'm not field crew and if I did it would be arguably correct/incorrectly placed. I simply tell the batter he needs to move up/back. Also, can't call the out for them being too far up in the box. I see this alot. Coach wants the call, but without lines defining the box, how can I call it without he's WAY up/back? This can be a s**t storm, avoidable by a little preemptive direction. IMO.