Another HBP question

quote:

Originally posted by bballman:
Rather than hijack the "Get back here" thread, thought I'd ask this in a new one. Happened to us the other night.

Batter standing up close to the plate. Pitcher throws CB at the batter. Batter ducks down and forward to avoid being hit. CB breaks over the plate and hits the batter in the head - clearly in the strike zone. Should it be HBP or a called strike?

I know you had to be there, but for the sake of the argument, assume the pitch was a strike.

Strike, stay here, unless it's strike three, then sit down. The ball is dead.

I called it once in a varsity game, thought the manager was going to have a stroke, he still talks about it. His point was who in their right mind would duck into a pitch to take it in the head? I told him, while not smart, he was hit in the zone, no base.

My son, in a JR. High game had this happen when buckled by a curve ball. His butt went right, his head went left and thigh high. The ball hit him square in the head. He was awarded first base. The pitch was perfect and the HBP call had a material effect on the outcome of the game.

On the way home, I was arguing with him about his claim that "they were throwing at me" (rediculous) and actually got in a fender bender with a good friend leaving the same game. It cost me $1500 to avoid an insurance claim.

The pitcher's dad and I still laugh about it. It's pretty funny until I remember the $1500 part. I'm still friends with the people I rear ended.

I'm surprised at how many youth umpires do not understand this ruling. I have seen happen no less than a half-dozen times and every time the player was awarded the base.

It happened twice with teams that I was managing (14U) and when I questioned the umpire (different in each case) he looked at me like I had two heads.