Jump to content
  • 0

Question

Posted

NfHS rule set. 

Hello all,  and thank you in advance for your replies :)   I can't explain all that went on in yesterday's games, it would take me a lifetime  :D

But to start,  what is the proper mechanics and enforcement of calling a strike for a batter's failure to maintain one foot in the box between pitches? 

This wasn't on my field,  but it was described as the batter wandering down the line and taking some time getting back in the box after a routine pitch, for this he was warned. An exchange occurred,  and the umpire issued the batter a warning for what I'll call "delay of game", for lack of a better term.  Well, the player said something profane and was then warned for that as well.    The next pitch is delivered, and again, the batter takes his time getting ready for the next pitch.  The umpire then instructs the batter that wherever the next pitch is thrown, it is going to be a strike.   Pitch comes.  Of course, it's nowhere close,  umpire makes his call, "Strike",  batter loses his $#@@ so to speak, drops another profanity, and gets dumped as a result.   Now,  legitimate ejection, no doubt, but how about the enforcement of the called strike?    I thought that when I read about this rule, the umpire would call a strike and a strike would be added to the count without the pitch being thrown,   I don't call many NFHS games, that's why I don't know the correct enforcement at the NFHS level.    but calling the obvious ball, a strike is always going to set the place ablaze.  

 

 The most interesting thing in my game was a LHP who, with  R1  in place, decided he would go windup.  He threw a pitch from the windup, and the runner didn't run.  The next pitch. he threw from the stretch after the coach yelled at him to "go from the stretch".   How soon did he forget because the third pitch, the LHP toes the rubber in the windup position.   Now, I'm intrigued by his setup, so I'm pretty focused on his feet in how he's now set up for the next pitch   In my fixation,  apparently, there was a small hitch the hands, and  R1 takes off for 2B.   I'm single man,   and watch the LHP step off correctly and throw to 2B where R1 is thrown out.  The offensive coach wants the balk, I tell him, I have legal disengagement. I could have missed the hands, but on subsequent windup deliveries,  I didn't see any real hitch of the hands while in the wind up.    what I have learned from this one is that the hands can also be considered the start of the wind-up delivery.  That's never really been anything I was explicitly watching for, so it's one more for the memory banks.   IDK, maybe the coach made it up, again,  I didn't see anything egregious in looking at the hands while in the windup.   The coach, to further articulate his point mentioned something about "the pitcher's hesitation" which was also something I did not see. So there you go.

Thanks for the engagement. I look forward to the comedic relief as well as the detailed case book chronicals :D 

 

 

 

 

 

11 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Posted
1 hour ago, Double Up said:

This wasn't on my field,  but it was described as the batter wandering down the line and taking some time getting back in the box after a routine pitch, for this he was warned. An exchange occurred,  and the umpire issued the batter a warning for what I'll call "delay of game", for lack of a better term.  Well, the player said something profane and was then warned for that as well.    The next pitch is delivered, and again, the batter takes his time getting ready for the next pitch.  The umpire then instructs the batter that wherever the next pitch is thrown, it is going to be a strike.   Pitch comes.  Of course, it's nowhere close,  umpire makes his call, "Strike",  batter loses his $#@@ so to speak, drops another profanity, and gets dumped as a result.   Now,  legitimate ejection, no doubt, but how about the enforcement of the called strike?    I thought that when I read about this rule, the umpire would call a strike and a strike would be added to the count without the pitch being thrown,   I don't call many NFHS games, that's why I don't know the correct enforcement at the NFHS level.    but calling the obvious ball, a strike is always going to set the place ablaze.  

Quite poorly handled by the umpire. The player is violating the batter's box rule, where he has to keep one foot in the box on any called strike or ball that doesn't push him out of the box. Not sure why an "exchange" occurred because a simple, "stay with us" is generally all it takes to get them back in the box. Sometimes, an additional, "Please keep one foot in the box" helps as well. I'm not going to comment on all the warnings, but this part, "The umpire then instructs the batter that wherever the next pitch is thrown, it is going to be a strike." is just wrong. Maybe in the old days umpires would do this, but there are too many cameras out there now to use this "technique" of getting a batter to comply. It's certainly not how you call a directed strike.

You can call a directed strike if the batter leaves the box with both feet and delays the game. So, if the batter doesn't comply after being instructed to get in the box, then point at the batter and with the strike mechanic, say "That's a strike."

In NFHS, you CAN call a strike no matter the location when the pitcher delivers the pitch and the batter leaves the box with one foot. Hell, you can even call TWO strikes if the pitcher throws a pitch and the batter leaves the box with BOTH feet. But you don't give a F*#K you strike after telling the batter you are going to do it.

  • Like 2
  • 0
Posted
1 hour ago, Double Up said:

The umpire then instructs the batter that wherever the next pitch is thrown, it is going to be a strike. 

Wrong application of a FED rule that's rarely called. 

6-4-d(1) My note- There's 3 different actions in the rule a,b,andc...I'm giving only the applicable part here, b. 

If the pitcher with runners on base stops or hesitates in the delivery of a pitch because the batter steps out of the box......(b) with both feet....it shall not be  balk.....in (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violating 7-3-1.  in (b) If the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live. Thus, 2 strikes are called on the batter in (b)

7-3-1 states a strike shall be called when a batter delays the game by stepping out of the batter's box when one of the 8 exceptions do not apply.  

 

My only comment on possibly missing the start of a windup with his hands from your view behind the plate...Don't sweat this working alone is tough, you need to focus on the pitch, like you said, you were hyper focused on his feet, which is 100% understandable given the situation of a pitcher in the windup with R1. I'd be looking there too expecting a switch from the windup to set without proper disengagement. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

  • Like 3
  • 0
Posted

Nothing groundbreaking to add, but some tidbits . . . 

As you articulated, and as @grayhawk said . . . right call, wrong way of going about it.  Not NFHS, but I saw this called in a Midwest League (single A) championship game a few years ago.  Mr. Cool was at bat and was taking excessive time playing with his jewelry and adjusting his batting gloves throughout his at bats.  Finally, the umpire warned him after a pitch that was his second strike.  With the pitcher, catcher, and umpire in place, Mr. Cool kept on Mr. Cool-ing.  Mr. Umpire stepped out and used the mechanic @Richvee just described to ring him up on the delay call.  Yes, it did result in ejections from the "batter being offended."  

With the advent of the pitch clock in MLB, acceptance of this will become more commonplace.  The sticky issue is that we don't have a visible clock.

As for your situation, unless the coach was cute, I'm not sure what your relationship status had to do with the call. 

Oh, you mean you were working the game under unacceptable conditions!  Yeah, sorry coach, spend the money and hire a properly staffed crew.  That's when I use the line, "That was a $75 call coach."  (You saved $75, but it didn't give us the proper resources to call this game.  A properly staffed crew probably would have had that.)

Do not accept solo assignments.

ZCi6N8.gif

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted

Definitely could have been handled better. IMO, don't bait into an ejection. Have I done it? Yes. Has it usually caused more problems? Yes. Handle the situation with firmness and professionalism.

2 hours ago, Double Up said:

This wasn't on my field,  but it was described as the batter wandering down the line and taking some time getting back in the box after a routine pitch, for this he was warned.

I tell umpires, Don't make this your best call. If the batter is in fact delaying the game, then a warning is appropriate. But do it calmly and professionally. Tell them if they keep doing that, by rule, you're going to call a strike. Many times the batter is not actually delaying the game, but rather the umpire is focused on the rule and wants to exercise his authority. Make sure they are actually delaying the game.

2 hours ago, Double Up said:

An exchange occurred,  and the umpire issued the batter a warning for what I'll call "delay of game", for lack of a better term.  Well, the player said something profane and was then warned for that as well. 

So this is where the batter has a decision to make. I've warned him calmly and professionally. Now it's up to the batter to decide where the conversation is going. If he's polite and calm, and doesn't react like a dick, then it's all good. Anything other than that, then I'm probably going to dump him if he says something profane to me.

In this umpires case, the batter was warned, and maybe that was appropriate, IDK.

2 hours ago, Double Up said:

The next pitch is delivered, and again, the batter takes his time getting ready for the next pitch.  The umpire then instructs the batter that wherever the next pitch is thrown, it is going to be a strike.

No. He's already given the warning. Thew umpire at this point should just add a strike to the count, and whatever happens, happens. No need to bait the batter into an ejection, and perhaps he should have already been ejected for his previous profanity.

 

2 hours ago, Double Up said:

 Pitch comes.  Of course, it's nowhere close,  umpire makes his call, "Strike",  batter loses his $#@@ so to speak, drops another profanity, and gets dumped as a result.   Now,  legitimate ejection, no doubt, but how about the enforcement of the called strike?    I thought that when I read about this rule, the umpire would call a strike and a strike would be added to the count without the pitch being thrown, 

No need to do this. In summary, warn, and add a strike without the pitcher throwing the pitch, and see what happens next.

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted
9 hours ago, grayhawk said:

But you don't give a F*#K you strike after telling the batter you are going to do it.

Preach the gospel! 

 

 

9 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

  Yeah, sorry coach, spend the money and hire a properly staffed crew.  That's when I use the line, "That was a $75 call coach."  (You saved $75, but it didn't give us the proper resources to call this game.  A properly staffed crew probably would have had that.)

Do not accept solo assignments.

That was my statement, almost verbatim :D    "Tell the AD he should pay for another guy"  

These games are just pre-season scrimmages, but everyone wants to forget why we're there to begin with. to get the work in, see some live AB's, and learn from the situations. 

Appreciate all the feedback, I agree, the delay of game should have been handled differently.   It's even pre-season for the umpires.       

  

 

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted
22 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

As for your situation, unless the coach was cute, I'm not sure what your relationship status had to do with the call. 

Took me a couple seconds to get what you meant here, but...

giphy.gif

22 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Do not accept solo assignments.

giphy.gif

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted

I also find it helpful to give a waiving motion mechanic while I am also telling the batter, "Please keep one foot in the box...". Most coaches will see the waiving motion and know that a directed strike is the next step so, they will back you up with some form of, "Jimmy! Keep one foot in the box or the ump's going to call the next pitch a strike! Let's go!"

~Dawg

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted
21 hours ago, Double Up said:

These games are just pre-season scrimmages, but everyone wants to forget why we're there to begin with. to get the work in, see some live AB's, and learn from the situations.   


… and by working solo, you are really only doing one of those three things.  

You are seeing live ABs, but how much of them are you seeing?  (Your thread is a perfect example.)

You are not learning proper mechanics or how to react to situations.  Who are you pregaming and post gaming with to get real-time analysis?

You are getting the work in.  

  • Like 1
  • 0
Posted
On 1/12/2025 at 9:28 PM, Double Up said:

These games are just pre-season scrimmages, but everyone wants to forget why we're there to begin with. to get the work in, see some live AB's, and learn from the situations.

Again, and as always, context is crucial. 

With these being established as scrimmages (cue: “Practice… we’re talkin’ bout practice.”), it is vital to set the tone and direction. For best, most agreeable, least confrontational, least tempestuous proceedings, set that tone before the scrimmage; get there early, not at the last minute. If you haven’t already met or conversed with the coach(es), do so; not at the plate meeting (if you even have one). Many of us here in Phoenix (especially Vultures) already are so familiar with programs throughout the valley, we can forgo plate meetings and a great deal of the “strict” formalities. 

So, establish with the coach that you’re going to be reminding batters to keep one foot in the box, etc. Such that when a transgression occurs, you don’t have to threaten with Dead-ball Penalty Strikes. You can simply raise your voice a smidge, and you’ll have a/the coach deal with the friction, eg. “Keegan! Stop being a dumbass and stay in the box!” 

Additionally, keep in mind that these scrimmages have a terminus – they don’t go on endlessly. So if a player, or several players, are making a habit (or, in current-gen speak, “trend”) of slowing the scrimmage down needlessly, just point out that the offending party is reducing the effectiveness of the scrimmage or practice for everyone. Call out stupidity and juvenile behavior when you see it! 

  • Like 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...