HBP - Crowding Plate

[zoops]

Batter crowding plate and a pitch comes inside.  Batter tucks his elbow in an enough of an attempt to not be hit by the pitch in my judgement but it clips him on the jersey (properly tucked in, etc.).  Catcher catches pitch and it would probably be a strike without the HBP.  The batter's feet were in the box and he made an attempt to evade the pitch, so I awarded him first.  Catcher wasn't real happy with it and I told him I understand but I can't make up rules.  Anything I'm missing here?

[maven]

When the pitch hits the batter, it is dead. If the pitch is a strike, then he is not entitled to first base. Same in all codes (FED 8-1-1d, OBR 5.05(b)(2)/6.08).

[krwill96]

If the pitch was in the strike zone, you keep the batter there and add a strike to the count.

2015 rule book 5.05 (2)  2014 rule book  4.03

(2) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempt- ing to hit unless (A) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (B) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball;

(2) If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched. 

[zoops]

Good to know, thank you gentlemen.  

[renegadewolf]

Saw a somewhat scary example of this at a 15U tourney last night night.  The batter was crowding the plate and for some reason when the pitch was delivered he decided to crouch down and move his head into pretty much the middle of the strike zone where sure enough he got hit smack in the helmet.  PU called the strike and told the batter to stay where he was.  Pretty sure the kid got himself a concussion as the next pitch he nailed one out into center and as he was going to first at about half way he slowed down to a stop and stood there with his head hanging before walking off the field.

[maven]

Saw a somewhat scary example of this at a 15U tourney last night night.  The batter was crowding the plate and for some reason when the pitch was delivered he decided to crouch down and move his head into pretty much the middle of the strike zone where sure enough he got hit smack in the helmet.  PU called the strike and told the batter to stay where he was.  Pretty sure the kid got himself a concussion as the next pitch he nailed one out into center and as he was going to first at about half way he slowed down to a stop and stood there with his head hanging before walking off the field.

​Did no adult evaluate him after he was hit in the head? Sheesh.

As PU in a youth baseball game, when this happens, we should kill it when the ball becomes dead and make sure coach comes out to evaluate him. That comes to more than merely, "You ok, son?" shouted from the dugout.

For those who think that's not our concern: we all need to be umpiring in 2015, not 1975. We don't ignore signs or symptoms of concussions any longer, at pretty much any level but especially in amateur sports.

Sorry for the hijack, and the soapbox.

[JaxRolo]

Dead ball strike. Period.

[Majordave]

You wouldn't believe how many umpires at high school level won't or don't call the strike but let the offending, "in the strike zone" batter go on to first.  It's sad when your partner leaves his balls and sack at home in a jar with his wife for safekeeping. 

[ricka56]

Good to know, thank you gentlemen.  

​The other thing you need to know is that a batter being hit by a pitch and not getting 1B is not the expected call. Be prepared for OHC "needing an explanation"...which is not hard to do, but you have to be prepared ... "skip, the pitch was in the KZ when it hit your batter...by rule, that's a dead-ball strike."

[catsbackr]

​Did no adult evaluate him after he was hit in the head? Sheesh.

As PU in a youth baseball game, when this happens, we should kill it when the ball becomes dead and make sure coach comes out to evaluate him. That comes to more than merely, "You ok, son?" shouted from the dugout.

For those who think that's not our concern: we all need to be umpiring in 2015, not 1975. We don't ignore signs or symptoms of concussions any longer, at pretty much any level but especially in amateur sports.

Sorry for the hijack, and the soapbox.

​From the OP, it sounds like the signs or symptoms were exhibited well after the batter was HBP.

[maven]

​From the OP, it sounds like the signs or symptoms were exhibited well after the batter was HBP.

​He was hit in the head with a pitch. That's enough to warrant a closer look prior to the next pitch (which, for all I know, did happen).

[RingEmUp]

You wouldn't believe how many umpires at high school level won't or don't call the strike but let the offending, "in the strike zone" batter go on to first.  It's sad when your partner leaves his balls and sack at home in a jar with his wife for safekeeping.

​I had a partner nut up and not only called the strike, but it was also strike 3.  I told him after the game he should have done his punch out move.  I've had several times this season when I thought I would get that chance but never came to be. 

[catsbackr]

I called it in a State tournament game.  The offensive coach, probably the most respected coach in the state, started walking down to argue.  I told him, "Tom^#, you saw exactly what I called, so you know exactly what happened."  He walked on by to his dugout.

[kylehutson]

I called a "dead ball strike" for a HBP in the strike zone (on a protected elbow pad) in a HS JV game this year. The kid looks at me, grins, and says "you're the first guy that's called me on that this year."

[jkumpire]

For a couple of us on this thread, state law compels to do some some things if there are signs and symptoms of a concussion that we see, whether it be summer ball, or HS school ball.

If I see an F2 get a mask hit (or cup short, or another damaging blow) after I walk out to F1 and give F2 a second to recover I come back, look him in the eye and ask him "how many of me do you see?" He usually says 'one' and I say "good, I had a college F2 one day say three, and we had a slight problem." He laughs I'm satisfied her's ok, and we play.

Story is true  BTW.