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HBP

Tiger3boyTiger3boy100+ posts
Twice in the last three weeks we have had this call made, and I am genuinely irritated by it. Batter gets an inside pitch, once a curveball, other a knuckle, both were struck near centerline after taking an inward turn and a slight move back.
In both cases the hitter was instructed to stay in the box, with the explanation that they had not done enough to get out of the way. In both situations the umpires stated that the contact could not have been avoided, but that the players needed to do more. (BTW, each demonstrated the technique they would have preferred, and they both put their heads right over the plate.) I stated that the hitter has to stay in the the breaking/off-speed pitch longer to avoid being fooled. If they can not avoid being hit, shouldn't they find the place to get hit and not hurt?
Are they making the right call, and if so, why?
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B bluezebra100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Tiger3boy:
Twice in the last three weeks we have had this call made, and I am genuinely irritated by it. Batter gets an inside pitch, once a curveball, other a knuckle, both were struck near centerline after taking an inward turn and a slight move back.
In both cases the hitter was instructed to stay in the box, with the explanation that they had not done enough to get out of the way. In both situations the umpires stated that the contact could not have been avoided, but that the players needed to do more. (BTW, each demonstrated the technique they would have preferred, and they both put their heads right over the plate.) I stated that the hitter has to stay in the the breaking/off-speed pitch longer to avoid being fooled. If they can not avoid being hit, shouldn't they find the place to get hit and not hurt?
Are they making the right call, and if so, why?


These fall under HTBT (had to be there). Without seeing the plays, it's impossible to give a valid opinion. HOWEVER, if the PUs said that the batters could not avoid the pitches, I would say these two guys goofed. Some pitches cannot be avoided, and should be HPBs, no matter what.

When the PUs made those dumb statements, I would have protested. If the umps admitted they couldn't avoid the pitches, yet made them stay in the box, is ridiculous. And protestable, in my opinion.
Tiger3boyTiger3boy100+ posts
Happened again today. Is their something new, maybe a directive to umpires to call this differently this year? Today the pitcher was usually throwing mid-60s, but every once in a while heated it up into the low 70's, with the ball up and in. Freshmen hitter did the inward turn as we have instructed him, and we thumped hard on the shoulder blade. No trip to first.
Tiger3boyTiger3boy100+ posts
Inward turn is a slight tucking of the lead shoulder, anticipating the breaking ball, and setting the hitter up to take the ball the other way.
If the ball is not breaking (i.e. fastball)and inside, the shoulder stays closed (protecting hands) and the hitter is to drop back (away from the plate), exposing only his back to any contact he may take. If the ball is up, the player is the turn their face toward the catcher, and close the hole at the base of the helmet by forcing the helmet to cover the gap. (Seems simpler when we teach it at practice.)
JC Jeff Connell100+ posts
Did the batter just turn his back or make an attempt to get out of the way? A 90 mile per hour fast ball can not be gotten out of the way of. But a 70 mph change up can. As an umpire, I always used my judgment as to whether the player seemed to take one or just couldn't move. The feet have a lot to do with it. If you are taking one, I did not give it to the batter. It is hard to say without seeing but it definitely is a judgment call.
B bluezebra100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by GSLump2:
Determining if a batter could have/did attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch is completely a judgement call by the umpire, and judgement calls cannot be argued.


Judgement calls can be argued, but not protested.

"In both situations the umpires stated that the contact could not have been avoided but that the players needed to do more".

More what? These comments make the situations protestable.

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