Batrer

[Guest clarkmonroe]

Is the batter required to be in the batter's box with a bat?

[scrounge]

as opposed to a chain saw? I'm not sure what you're asking, to be honest.

[noumpere]

56 minutes ago, Guest clarkmonroe said:

Is the batter required to be in the batter's box with a bat?

The rules are written assuming the batter is going to try to reach base -- so the use of a bat is assumed, even if it's not spelled out explicitly.

[ElkOil]

1 hour ago, Guest clarkmonroe said:

Is the batter required to be in the batter's box with a bat?

He's not really a batter if he doesn't have a bat, now is he?

[ElkOil]

34 minutes ago, noumpere said:

The rules are written assuming the batter is going to try to reach base -- so the use of a bat is assumed, even if it's not spelled out explicitly.

Yeah, but he could get hit by the pitch. ah HA!  I've GOT you!

[stkjock]

Or walk...

[ElkOil]

Just now, stkjock said:

Or walk...

I thought about that and then I wondered if without a bat, the guy standing at the plate could have a natural batting stance, and perhaps no defined strike zone.

[Gfoley4]

 

[stkjock]

31 minutes ago, ElkOil said:

I thought about that and then I wondered if without a bat, the guy standing at the plate could have a natural batting stance, and perhaps no defined strike zone.

As long as he's standing there, why would the zone be any different, hollow of the knee to the letters (~), he'd be at a disadvantage if he stood straight up of course.  I'm confident you'd adjust Elk.  

[Rich Ives]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

The rules are written assuming the batter is going to try to reach base -- so the use of a bat is assumed, even if it's not spelled out explicitly.

HBP, Walk.

The batter can elect to offer at the pitch or not - his choosing. If he's going to elect to not attempt why does he need a bat?

[ElkOil]

32 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

HBP, Walk.

The batter can elect to offer at the pitch or not - his choosing. If he's going to elect to not attempt why does he need a bat?

If he doesn't have a bat, he's not a batter. He's just a guys standing there.

 

[Rich Ives]

10 minutes ago, ElkOil said:

If he doesn't have a bat, he's not a batter. He's just a guys standing there.

 

He's the person on the batting order that is due there. You don't get to decide if he's going to offer or not - he decides.

 

What if he does have a bat but just leans on it as one would with a cane?  Then what?

[ElkOil]

3 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

He's the person on the batting order that is due there. You don't get to decide if he's going to offer or not - he decides.

 

What if he does have a bat but just leans on it as one would with a cane?  Then what?

Obviously he wouldn't be a batter then either. He'd be a caner. Jeez.

[stkjock]

16 minutes ago, ElkOil said:

If he doesn't have a bat, he's not a batter. He's just a guys standing there.

 

OBR - definition of "batter"

 

Quote

BATTER is an offensive player who takes a position in the batter's box.

Doesn't seem to demand he have a stick in his possession.  

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

HBP, Walk.

The batter can elect to offer at the pitch or not - his choosing. If he's going to elect to not attempt why does he need a bat?

None of that is precluded by my answer.  I stand by it.  Make him bring a bat.

[beerguy55]

56 minutes ago, noumpere said:

None of that is precluded by my answer.  I stand by it.  Make him bring a bat.

I don't know how different it is at the community level these days, but when I was a kid playing community ball (ie. not club/all star level) it was very rare for any one player to own their own bat, let alone every player.  The team had five community helmets (the horror), and maybe four or five bats...and I remember one particular night where we were down to two bats by end of game.   

In an extremely odd/rare situation where a team only has four or five bats and they all break on a cold night, I can't see why the team could not send batters in proper order to stand in the box for the remainder of the game (or at least until a parent gets to Walmart and back), to at least make a pitcher throw three strikes.  

They can't bring a broken/illegal bat into the box with them, even if they have no intention to use it...and I wouldn't blame the other team for not wanting to lend out their bats to this team that keeps breaking them.

 

Another scenario I can see is some coach has all the bats and is stuck in traffic - let the team start empty handed in the batter's box.

[Rich Ives]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

None of that is precluded by my answer.  I stand by it.  Make him bring a bat.

If I was on the protest committee I vote against you.

[ElkOil]

2 hours ago, stkjock said:

OBR - definition of "batter"

 

Doesn't seem to demand he have a stick in his possession.  

Well that's a shame. That no longer suits my sense of humor. 

[Specks]

Got to have a bat to get an at bat, make him bring one. I can't call strikes because wheres the zone? Says (paraphrased) as the batter attempts to strike the pitch, without a bat how can he attempt to strike the pitch..how can he have any pudding if he don't eat his meat?

[Rich Ives]

42 minutes ago, Specks said:

Got to have a bat to get an at bat, make him bring one. I can't call strikes because wheres the zone? Says (paraphrased) as the batter attempts to strike the pitch, without a bat how can he attempt to strike the pitch..how can he have any pudding if he don't eat his meat?

Because he can attempt or not - his choice - not yours.

The zone is defined in the rules. A bat is not part of that definition.

[beerguy55]

46 minutes ago, Specks said:

Got to have a bat to get an at bat, make him bring one. I can't call strikes because wheres the zone? Says (paraphrased) as the batter attempts to strike the pitch, without a bat how can he attempt to strike the pitch..how can he have any pudding if he don't eat his meat?

I would MAYBE agree that you can't strike at a pitch without a bat, but I would be inclined to call a strike if he swung his hands at the ball.  

I can't see any reason why you would not be able to determine his strike zone.  If you got a batter who stood in the box, with a bat, and got into a squat where his knees touched his armpits, you're going to use judgment to what his strike zone would be if he stood in a reasonable position.

[Specks]

I was being a little facetious about the strike zone determination. I would need him to bring the bat otherwise we're just standing around staring at each other.

[scrounge]

I don't care if he has a bat or not, stand there like a goof and take your three strikes. One out closer to the end. No skin off my back.

[beerguy55]

3 hours ago, scrounge said:

I don't care if he has a bat or not, stand there like a goof and take your three strikes. One out closer to the end. No skin off my back.

Being honest here - would you call three strikes no matter where they were, or would you still hold the pitcher to at least get them over the plate?

[scrounge]

39 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

Being honest here - would you call three strikes no matter where they were, or would you still hold the pitcher to at least get them over the plate?

just call them like you see them...stroke 3 pitches right down the middle, he's not hitting them.

[beerguy55]

13 hours ago, scrounge said:

just call them like you see them...stroke 3 pitches right down the middle, he's not hitting them.

It's amazing the number of times I've seen a pitcher throw four balls when all he had to do was pipe it.   Somehow "let him hit it" translates to "walk him".