The guy I talked about above had 106 PA with 12 HPB.
Plate crowding = f {PV/PC} x PFH x (PH/70)
Where:
PV = Pitcher Velocity
PC = Pitcher Control %
PFH = Pitcher Facial Hair
PH = Pitcher Height in inches
So if I have a pitcher who throws 90+ with 30% control and looks like James Harden and is 6'8" I think there will not be too much plate crowding going on.
JCG posted:The guy I talked about above had 106 PA with 12 HPB.
That seems like a lot, but without knowing how he compared to the others on his team, it’s really difficult to make a real judgment.
Good point. Including him, the team had 894 PA and 32 HBP, so yeah, compared to the rest of the team, he got hit a lot, enough to boost his OBA over 100pts.
JCG posted:Good point. Including him, the team had 894 PA and 32 HBP, so yeah, compared to the rest of the team, he got hit a lot, enough to boost his OBA over 100pts.
That is a tough way to pad the stats! Maybe he's a hockey player? Happy Gilmore?
Haha but not really - he hit .438. Now what would be interesting to see is whether he was hit at a higher rate in league games than non-league games. In league, everybody knows everybody and this kid was not popular with opposing players.
Catchers-
Need to set up inside. If the coach isnt aware of it, you make him aware of it. If the batter is doing something illegal (stepping on the plate) he could bring it up when he comes in for the next half inning.... Act like your switching out balls and mention it. Don't draw attention to it. But just make him aware. If the ump is missing the strikes and not giving the inside strikes cause it looks like its a ball, let your coach fight that issue.
A batter CAN be hit by a pitch and a strike called. Being hit and awarded 1st base is not automatic. The batter MUST make an attempt to avoid the pitch. It is up to the plate umpire to make that determination and SELL the call.
A catcher that jumps up too quickly can shield the view of an umpire. So a hit batter can be an "interesting" call by the umpire. Leaning over the plate, crowding or otherwise not attempting to hit a pitch and getting deliberately hit by a pitch is not illegal but does not guarantee a free trip up the line. The umpire has not make the call and again, sell it.
Chin music or head hunting is against the rules and obviously dangerous. A warning will be issued by the umpire to the pitcher and HC followed by an ejection by both if continued. Further action or retaliation by the other team may be met the same actions and/or by ending the game as a forfeit or no contest. It doesn't have to follow that order. The umpire MAY end the game prior to ejections. Be advised there is a whole lot of unpaid paperwork that the umpire has to do after an ejection or subsequent ending of a game. It is not a decision made lightly. EVERYBODY gets involved. Both school's administration, the league, the umpire association, the local PTA, drug enforcement agency the city plumber and the PTA. For the humor impaired that was a joke....a few of those don't get involved but they might.
Crowding the plate is like an extreme crouch or sending Eddie Gaedel to the plate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel
It is a ploy to get on the pitcher's nerves and blur the lines on the strike zone. As is calling time after the pitcher is set with empty bases or exiting the batter's box after every pitch. An umpire does NOT have to award/approve a time out, the pitcher can pitch and the pitch can be called a strike. Delay tactics by the offense are irritating not necessarily illegal but are discouraged by the rules. The umpire can nudge the offense into "fair play" by calling strikes on an empty batter's box for a batter stepping out or taking too much time. Usually the offense gets the message and plays the game correctly. The umpire either lets them play or exerts a measure of control to ensure "fair" play. Games that get out of control can be brought back by warnings, confinement to the dugout, ejections with subsequent game disqualifications or forfeit.
Being called out for stepping on the base is also not automatic. Many batters will step on the base or across it while attempting to swing or bunt on a pitch out. Causing interference with the catcher. A swing or a bunt can be called a strike, batter interference can be called, the batter could be called out and runners sent back to the previous base. It all "depends" on the scenario. Space and time is limited but suffice to say the written scenarios are MANY pages long.
The best way to know the rules is to obtain a copy of the NFHS rules. It can be downloaded online in a PDF format, old school hard copy and onto your iPhone. Be careful and get the latest edition. Rules can change and there are amendments every year. There are also books on the mechanics of umpires and what if scenarios of every day plays that can end up with different calls. Students of the game should read up on these.
Rules change, as a coach found out when he challenged me with a iPhone edition of the rules dated 2012. It involved the placement of a pitcher's feet on the rubber. Hard to see from behind the plate but the offensive HC brought it up and he was right. The defensive HC disputed the findings and whipped out his iPhone. Old rule book. Mine was in my kit bag and I showed him the change. So he was wrong.
Umpires in my association spent close to 2 hours this year viewing video of HS/College/Pro hit by pitches and discussed the issue at length. If the offense wants to take this dubious offensive strategy go ahead and get the hits, bruises and contusions but you are not always going to get the freebie trip to 1st base.