quote:
Originally posted by #32 DAD:
Batter has 2 strikes on him. Pitcher throws a change up fooling the batter and he swings (lunges) at the ball way early. Ball is inside and hits batter (catcher does catch the ball). Umpire called dead ball and awarded batter 1st base. Was that the correct call?
1. If, as you suggest, the batter swung at the pitch we have a dead ball, strike three.
2. If the batter did not swing, but "lunged" at the ball, we still have a deadball, but the umpire will need to consider if the batter intentionally got in the way of the pitch in an attmept to be hit, or not.
3. Must have been a pretty decent catcher to field the pitch after the HBP.