Smartest batter alive (pt II)

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 A couple of seasons ago, I was working a game at historic Rickwood Field, where the backstop is a good fifty feet behind the plate. with a count of two and two, and no one on, the pitcher has one get away from him and sail over my head. In the process of the ball flying by, the batter swung at the ball, leaving us with an uncaught third strike. Batter proceeds to wind up standing at second base. Defensive HC comes out to complain that "he can't do that". When I questioned him as to why not, he really had no answer, other than "it's not fair". I had to chuckle as he walked back to his dugout.

[blue23ll]

I had this happen once. Runner on 3rd, with a 2-1 count on the batter. Pitcher uncorks a wild pitch, batter swings and HEADS TOWARD FIRST, everyone is yelling...throw to first, throw to first....which the catcher does and sends into RF, R3 trots home. Defensive coach comes out and wants me to send the R3 back, and I say no, its your teams responsibility to know the situation. 

[Replacematt]

 A couple of seasons ago, I was working a game at historic Rickwood Field, where the backstop is a good fifty feet behind the plate. with a count of two and two, and no one on, the pitcher has one get away from him and sail over my head. In the process of the ball flying by, the batter swung at the ball, leaving us with an uncaught third strike. Batter proceeds to wind up standing at second base. Defensive HC comes out to complain that "he can't do that". When I questioned him as to why not, he really had no answer, other than "it's not fair". I had to chuckle as he walked back to his dugout.

 

I've seen the discussion before on this. Some advocate for calling this a ball as the batter was not making a legitimate attempt to hit the ball (compare this with swinging so late as to be obviously not attempting to hit the ball, but distract F2.)

[DVA7130]

I don't have a problem with it as long as has some kind of chance to come close to hitting it. I think we all agree in this play. The more extreme cases are htbt and judgment. This doesn't need much discussion.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

It don't understand what difference it makes whether the attempt was "legitimate". Why reward (protect) the pitcher for throwing the ball away ?

[spiritump]

if the count was 1 ball 1 strike the DC would demand you call a strike on the batter

[grayhawk]

I believe Wendelstedt has issued an opinion that this should not be called a strike if the swing is late.

[blue23ll]

I believe Wendelstedt has issued an opinion that this should not be called a strike if the swing is late.

Yes, but does J/R concur?

[Senor Azul]

In Carl Childress' 2014 BRD under the heading of Pitch: End of: Definition

 

He added an official interpretation from Wendelstedt dated 8/20/2013 for OBR:

 

The pitch ends when the ball delivered by the pitcher is either caught by the catcher, is hit by the batter, touches the batter before being deflected, or goes (or would have gone) out of play on its own, or its deflected, momentum.

 

Here are the Fed and NCAA interpretations for comparison:

 

Fed: A pitch ends when the pitched ball is secured by the catcher, comes to rest, goes out of play, becomes dead, or the batter hits the ball (other than a foul tip). 2-28-4

 

NCAA: A pitch not secured by the catcher but remaining in the playing area ends when it stops rolling. 8-3-o-4 AR

 

Mr. Grayhawk, could this be the Wendelstedt interpretation you mentioned earlier? I couldn't find anything else.

 

 

[grayhawk]

In Carl Childress' 2014 BRD under the heading of Pitch: End of: Definition

 

He added an official interpretation from Wendelstedt dated 8/20/2013 for OBR:

 

The pitch ends when the ball delivered by the pitcher is either caught by the catcher, is hit by the batter, touches the batter before being deflected, or goes (or would have gone) out of play on its own, or its deflected, momentum.

 

Here are the Fed and NCAA interpretations for comparison:

 

Fed: A pitch ends when the pitched ball is secured by the catcher, comes to rest, goes out of play, becomes dead, or the batter hits the ball (other than a foul tip). 2-28-4

 

NCAA: A pitch not secured by the catcher but remaining in the playing area ends when it stops rolling. 8-3-o-4 AR

 

Mr. Grayhawk, could this be the Wendelstedt interpretation you mentioned earlier? I couldn't find anything else.

 

That's not it.  Honestly, I think he posted in a thread here about a year ago.  I'll see if I can find it.

[grayhawk]

Found it:

 

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/40537-swing-on-ibb-strike/?p=123820