Hit By Pitch

[cearle23]

In a high school rec league game (NFHS rules) recently a right handed batter on an inside pitch started to 
bail and in the process removed his left hand from the bat, the pitch then hit him in the hand not contacting 
the bat, the pitch was out of the strike zone at the time of it contacting the batter.  Is this a HBP or should it be called a ball? 

Rule 7-3-4 does not allow a batter to permit a pitched ball to touch him. Penalty being the batter remains at 
bat with the pitch being a ball or a strike, but the movement did not seem to be an intentional action, so 
is it judgement if the batter "permits" the ball to touch him?  The rule does not say anything about intent... 

Thanks in advance.

 

[Aging_Arbiter]

HTBT.  If in YOUR judgment, he was bailing...........award on the HBP.

[Mike Prince]

I've got HBP all the way.

[BRUMP]

HBP

[HeadHunterLA]

What they said.

[cearle23]

Thank you.

 

On the flip side.... what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit?  No attempt what-so-ever to move? If they roll their front shoulder to take the pitch intentionally? Does the pitch make any difference (fastball vs. off speed)?

[BRUMP]

something like this http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/53786-great-call/ (go to johnnys youtube video)

[noumpere]

Thank you.

 

On the flip side.... what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit?  No attempt what-so-ever to move? If they roll their front shoulder to take the pitch intentionally? Does the pitch make any difference (fastball vs. off speed)?

Had a reasonable chance to get out of the way and didn't or intentionally moved into the pitch.

[Stan W.]

Ive had 2 of these this year.....HBP....and although I've been known to be somewhat liberal on HBP, I will keep a player at the plate for no effort on an avoidable pitch or intentionally moving into a pitch.

[SoCal Lurker]

 

Thank you.

 

On the flip side.... what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit?  No attempt what-so-ever to move? If they roll their front shoulder to take the pitch intentionally? Does the pitch make any difference (fastball vs. off speed)?

Had a reasonable chance to get out of the way and didn't or intentionally moved into the pitch.

 

 

Or the pitch is a strike . . . saw a team go ballistic over the weekend when this was called.  U may have made it more difficulat for himself by saying "the ball was over the plate" rather than "the pitch was a strike," as once the coach understood what he was saying, he argued over the plate isn't the same as a strike.    (The more I learn what the rules really are, the more entertained I am by coaches when I watch youth games . . . .)

[maven]

what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit? 

 

The correct answer to this question varies somewhat by code, and a GREAT deal by level.

[Aging_Arbiter]

 

what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit? 

 

The correct answer to this question varies somewhat by code, and a GREAT deal by level.

 

 

Concur with maven.  If I'm doing a LL minors game and Little Johnny is in his first year of "other kids" throwing at him, I'm a little more leanient.  For example, Since Little Johnny 9y/o most likely wasn't coached to "turn in & look away" from the pitch coming at him, if he so much as squints his eyes (knowing it's gonna hurt), to me.....in HIS MIND......he was trying to get out of the way & just froze. Rub some dirt on it & walk it off on your way to 1B.

 

Conversely, Big Tony Testosterone, the HR king of the Varsity squad who only see's breaking balls (because the pitchers know what will happen if they spot one) see's that slow bender not breaking like it should and just stands there to "take one for the team".......Well, the only thing he's gonna take is a look at the next pitch, cause he ain't going anywhere.

[Umpire in Chief]

If IMO I believe the batter is trying to defend himself I'll give him the base, especially at the lower levels.