When is a bunt a swing

[Stan W.]

 

 

Question applicable to this thread:

 

OBR SIT:  batter does not move bat. (I would have judged batter still offered)

 

Why?

 

Batter squares to bunt (bat out in front of him), pitch is very close to where bat is located, in Mad Mike sitch the pitch hits the bat, so it's a no-brainer strike, but what if it doesn't hit the bat? Why would a batter move his bat to bunt a pitch if he thought that the bat was already in position to bunt the pitch. This would have to be a HTBT sitch, but I would consider calling it an offer (htbt) if batter left bat out near the pitch and either made contact or just missed bunting it.  

 

 

I believe that's why the official interpretation leaves it vague enough for umpire judgement..

 

NCAA/OBR- Official interp- A bat left in the strike zone is not, in itself, an offer at a pitch. However the intent of the batter should declare whether he offered at the pitch.

[Rich Ives]

 

 

Question applicable to this thread:

 

OBR SIT:  batter does not move bat. (I would have judged batter still offered)

 

Why?

 

Batter squares to bunt (bat out in front of him), pitch is very close to where bat is located, in Mad Mike sitch the pitch hits the bat, so it's a no-brainer strike, but what if it doesn't hit the bat? Why would a batter move his bat to bunt a pitch if he thought that the bat was already in position to bunt the pitch. This would have to be a HTBT sitch, but I would consider calling it an offer (htbt) if batter left bat out near the pitch and either made contact or just missed bunting it.  

 

 

I cannot even begin to imagine a batter not moving the bat even if it's that close.  That's just not how one hits. And unless the runner(s) were going on the pitch you don't attempt to bunt a high inside pitch.

[bam]

ricka56, on 20 May 2014 - 09:08 AM, said:

 

Rich Ives, on 20 May 2014 - 12:20 AM, said:

 

Mad Mike, on 19 May 2014 - 2:32 PM, said:

Question applicable to this thread:

 

OBR SIT:  batter does not move bat. (I would have judged batter still offered)

 

Why?

 

Batter squares to bunt (bat out in front of him), pitch is very close to where bat is located, in Mad Mike sitch the pitch hits the bat, so it's a no-brainer strike, but what if it doesn't hit the bat? Why would a batter move his bat to bunt a pitch if he thought that the bat was already in position to bunt the pitch. This would have to be a HTBT sitch, but I would consider calling it an offer (htbt) if batter left bat out near the pitch and either made contact or just missed bunting it.  

 

If it's that close to the bat then it's in the strike zone, isn't it? 

[Rich Ives]

 

ricka56, on 20 May 2014 - 09:08 AM, said:

 

Rich Ives, on 20 May 2014 - 12:20 AM, said:

 

Mad Mike, on 19 May 2014 - 2:32 PM, said:

Question applicable to this thread:

 

OBR SIT:  batter does not move bat. (I would have judged batter still offered)

 

Why?

 

Batter squares to bunt (bat out in front of him), pitch is very close to where bat is located, in Mad Mike sitch the pitch hits the bat, so it's a no-brainer strike, but what if it doesn't hit the bat? Why would a batter move his bat to bunt a pitch if he thought that the bat was already in position to bunt the pitch. This would have to be a HTBT sitch, but I would consider calling it an offer (htbt) if batter left bat out near the pitch and either made contact or just missed bunting it.  

 

If it's that close to the bat then it's in the strike zone, isn't it? 

 

 

Except the sit had the ball up and in.

[afaber12]

ricka56, on 20 May 2014 - 09:08 AM, said:

Rich Ives, on 20 May 2014 - 12:20 AM, said:

Mad Mike, on 19 May 2014 - 2:32 PM, said:

Question applicable to this thread:

OBR SIT: batter does not move bat. (I would have judged batter still offered)

Why?

Batter squares to bunt (bat out in front of him), pitch is very close to where bat is located, in Mad Mike sitch the pitch hits the bat, so it's a no-brainer strike, but what if it doesn't hit the bat? Why would a batter move his bat to bunt a pitch if he thought that the bat was already in position to bunt the pitch. This would have to be a HTBT sitch, but I would consider calling it an offer (htbt) if batter left bat out near the pitch and either made contact or just missed bunting it.

If it's that close to the bat then it's in the strike zone, isn't it?

Except the sit had the ball up and in.

So he's probably hit by the pitch, and still have to judge if there was a swing.

Some guys bunt by holding a dead bat, but generally (in my experience at least) there's some sort of twitch at the ball to control the direction and the speed of the bunt. If he's holding the bat out to bunt, doesn't move it once there, but the ball goes close it's probably a called strike anyway. If it's not that close to the bat, it's probably not a swing.