forced out ofthe box

[Mick]

What about this?  If the pitch is way inside, and the batter steps out of the box to avoid getting hit, but his bat accidently taps the ball, while one foot is clearly out of the box.  Whether it goes fair or foul, is the batter automatically out for hitting the ball with a foot outside the box?

[maven]

What about this?  If the pitch is way inside, and the batter steps out of the box to avoid getting hit, but his bat accidently taps the ball, while one foot is clearly out of the box.  Whether it goes fair or foul, is the batter automatically out for hitting the ball with a foot outside the box?

 

Did the batter hit the ball, or did the ball hit the bat?

 

If he didn't hit the ball, could he have hit it illegally?

 

FED 7-3-2; OBR 6.06(a)

[johnnyg08]

@Mick, good question, but I'm going to move this topic. Ask the Umpire is here for non-members to ask questions.

I'm going to move this to "Rules"

[noumpere]

 

What about this?  If the pitch is way inside, and the batter steps out of the box to avoid getting hit, but his bat accidently taps the ball, while one foot is clearly out of the box.  Whether it goes fair or foul, is the batter automatically out for hitting the ball with a foot outside the box?

 

Did the batter hit the ball, or did the ball hit the bat?

 

If he didn't hit the ball, could he have hit it illegally?

 

FED 7-3-2; OBR 6.06(a)

 

I'll add "what's the purpose and intent of the rule?  Did the play meet it?"

 

(and I recognize that this is a dangerous question to ask because some take it too far to avoid enforcing a rule they don't like)

[Cav]

Me: Time!  You, you're out.

Skip: What?

Me: He was outside the box on contact.

Skip: What?  He was bailing to save his butt.

Me: He illegally hit a legal pitch.  

Skip: What?  The pitch was at his head!

Me: He should have used his head...

Skip: What?  

Me: ...and lowered his bat like your good coaching has taught them to do.

Skip: What?

Me: Let's play ball.
 

[ricka56]

What about this?  If the pitch is way inside, and the batter steps out of the box to avoid getting hit, but his bat accidently taps the ball, while one foot is clearly out of the box.  Whether it goes fair or foul, is the batter automatically out for hitting the ball with a foot outside the box?

 

Even where I sit right now, his foot wasn't clearly out of the box to me.

I was watching the pitch/possible HBP.

[Rich Ives]

Me: Time!  You, you're out.

Skip: What?

Me: He was outside the box on contact.

Skip: What?  He was bailing to save his butt.

Me: He illegally hit a legal pitch.  

Skip: What?  The pitch was at his head!

Me: He should have used his head...

Skip: What?  

Me: ...and lowered his bat like your good coaching has taught them to do.

Skip: What?

Me: Let's play ball.

 

 

Your understanding of the situation is incorrect.

[Cav]

Probably, though why remains unclear to me.  But, that's never stopped me from attempting to impose my sick humor into the situation.

[Mick]

 

What about this?  If the pitch is way inside, and the batter steps out of the box to avoid getting hit, but his bat accidently taps the ball, while one foot is clearly out of the box.  Whether it goes fair or foul, is the batter automatically out for hitting the ball with a foot outside the box?

 

Even where I sit right now, his foot wasn't clearly out of the box to me.

I was watching the pitch/possible HBP.

 

Great Answer!  I like it!