Hit By Pitch

quote:

Originally posted by reggie-3-77:

As I read the rule as long as the ball is not in the strike zone or the batter does not move into the pitch the batter should be awarded first base.

Did you read the second paragraph of 6.08 (b)?

"If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball IF HE MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO AVOID BEING TOUCHED."


So taken literally, your read of the rule is incorrect. However, there are different interpretations as to what constitutes an attempt to avoid being touched.

The rule you talking about is the college rule. HS or pro rules you have attempt to avoid. In college if it in the box the batter doesn't need to avoid.

There's a new wrinkle in NCAA. From: 2008 Major Rule Change Review and Interpretations
6. Hit by Pitch Rule. This rule has been clarified by the committee for this season. The batter must make an attempt to avoid the pitch. If a pitch freezes a batter and he is not able to avoid a pitch and the pitch is clearly in his batter’s box, first base is awarded. If a pitch hits the batter outside the vertical lines of the batter’s box and the hitter makes no attempt to avoid the pitch, the batter remains at the plate and the pitch is called a ball or strike.

Another way to look at this rule change, if a batter hits the ball with any part of his body by moving his body part towards the pitch, the batter will be kept at the plate and the pitch called a ball or strike, depending upon the pitch’s location. If the ball hits the batter as the batter is attempting to avoid the pitch, the batter is awarded first base. This guidance should assist umpires and coaches with the adjudication of this rule.


I'm not sure this actually clarifies anything, but if I read it correctly, if a batter moves into the pitch, first base isn't awarded, even if the pitch is in the batter's box.

MLB Rules

Per baseball official rule 6.08(b), a batter becomes a baserunner and is awarded first base when he or his equipment (except for his bat):

is touched by a pitched ball outside of the strike zone,
and he attempts to avoid it (or had no opportunity to avoid it),
and he did not swing at the pitch.[1]
If all these conditions are met, the ball is dead, and other baserunners advance if they are forced to vacate their base by the batter taking first. Rule 5.09(a) further clarifies that a hit by pitch is also called when a pitch touches a batter's clothing.[2]

In the case where a batter swings and the pitch hits him anyway, the ball is dead and a strike is called.[3] If the batter does not attempt to avoid the pitch, he is not awarded first base, and the pitch is ruled a strike if in the strike zone and a ball if out of the strike zone. In practice, umpires rarely make this call. Perhaps the most famous instance of a non-hit by pitch was on May 31, 1968, when Don Drysdale hit Dick Deitz with a pitch that would have forced in a run and ended Drysdale's scoreless innings streak at 44. Umpire Harry Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, Dietz proceeded to fly out, and Drysdale's scoreless streak continued to a then-record 58 2/3 innings.[4]

A hit by pitch can also be called on a pitch that has touched the ground. Such a bouncing pitch is like any other, and if a batter is hit by such a pitch, he will be awarded first unless he made no attempt to avoid it.

As to calling a HBP.........and this will bring out probably the only differing opinion I have with MST as we agree pretty much on everything.......

I took much of this answer from a previous post....

I am known to award a HBP almost every time. At the HS level (and above) I have seen players jelly legged by curves, frozen by an errant fastball and even a flinch is enough for me to determine they tried to get out of the way. Its up to me to determine if he made an effort.

I dont get a lot of players who deliberatly do not move.......a clear violation and there will be no base award. But that is Umpire judgement......and in other words "my judgement"..........backed up by my umpire education and years of experience.

For me to keep a batter at the plate he would have to basically move into a pitch. Just last night I kept a player at the plate after being hit. But he chicken winged me....he dipped an armor padded elbow into a slow curve......

MST will be along shortly with the point/counterpoint..........

I've seen it a dozen times at least over the last 5 years. Slow curve ball, batter has plenty of time to move, it is obvious the ball couldn't break back over the plate because it simply isn't moving fast enough to break any direction other than down. Batter just stays put, lets it hit him.

Umpire (rightly, in my view) says "stay here."

This is totally different, I think, than a good hard curve where the batter holds his ground and the ball doesn't break back in. I've once or twice seen the batter denied first base with that type of pitch, and thought the coach had a point when he complained "But we TEACH them to stand in on a curve."

Umpire judgement, that's all.

quote:

Originally posted by reggie-3-77:

In practice, umpires rarely make this call.

Your source for the editorial comments is either outdated or out of touch. While it does not happen in the majority of instances, it is no longer "rare" for professional umpires to not award first. It is happening with increasing frequency these days and has lead to ejetions.

Here I come for the counterpoint. I kept a player in the box in a tournament on the Fourth of July. He set up with at least half of his arm over the plate. He let a pitch come in and go right down his forearm, never flinched a bit. I called the ball and kept him in the box. The manager gave me the usual about a curve ball, etc. If it hasn't curved by the time it gets to the plate, it isn't going to. The next batter set up the same way but turned. I gave him the base. The first guy didn't even meet the college rule.

I like the NCAA rule the best. If the pitch is within the vertical lines of the batter's box, the only way the batter WON'T get the base is if he moves into the pitch.