HBP/In the box

[umpire_scott]

So this is probably the part of umpiring that I struggle with the most.  Any suggestions beyond the obvious are appreciated.  

 

When the ball is in the dirt on a potential HBP or batted ball contacting the batter's foot I have a difficult time seeing for certain whether it actually did.  I know the conventional theory of watching batter reaction and ball reaction and then take everything into account.  But I've been burned by this a few times.  

 

A few games ago I had a batter hit the ball and it went near his foot and took a really strange bounce so I killed it.  Third base coach asked his player if it hit him and he said no.  He did not react, but the change in direction that I had the ball take made me believe it must have even though I did not see it hit his foot.  What caused me to kill it is that I've been reluctant to in the past unless I was 100% certain and that too has bitten me when coaches have claimed to have seen it and their players "confirmed" this by stating it hit them.  This has happened with and without player and ball reactions.

[JaxRolo]

You gotta watch the batters reaction.

[Richvee]

I've found when I'm in a good grove and consistently tracking every pitch all the way to the glove, it's easier to see the ball off the bat and more often than not, I can get a clear picture of the ball either hitting the batter or not.  When I'm not tracking all the way to the glove, and "giving up" on the pitch as it crosses the plate, I don't see batted balls at all. I actually use this as a check on myself to make sure I'm tracking. If I don't see the ball hit the bat every time, I'm not tracking right. 

[umpstu]

That's a very tough situation, more so when the catcher is setting up inside. I watch the batter. If I'm not a 100 percent and he takes off like a bat out of hell, oh well. He will have to give me an oscar winning performance if I'm not sure. Watching the catcher is another good idea. If he relaxes you might have a hit batter.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

So this is probably the part of umpiring that I struggle with the most.  Any suggestions beyond the obvious are appreciated.  

 

When the ball is in the dirt on a potential HBP or batted ball contacting the batter's foot I have a difficult time seeing for certain whether it actually did.  I know the conventional theory of watching batter reaction and ball reaction and then take everything into account.  But I've been burned by this a few times.  

 

A few games ago I had a batter hit the ball and it went near his foot and took a really strange bounce so I killed it.  Third base coach asked his player if it hit him and he said no.  He did not react, but the change in direction that I had the ball take made me believe it must have even though I did not see it hit his foot.  What caused me to kill it is that I've been reluctant to in the past unless I was 100% certain and that too has bitten me when coaches have claimed to have seen it and their players "confirmed" this by stating it hit them.  This has happened with and without player and ball reactions.

 

Some coaches, and players, lie. They will try nearly anything to get their way, especially if they think they can get over on you.