Wearing a pitch?

Taking a rip with a smooth swing makes it go even farther!

I think the college rule is far better than the high school rule: in the college rule if the pitch is in the batters box and hits the batter he gets 1st; if it is not in the box he doesn't

This will help stop the leaning (especially clear over the dang plate.

quote:

Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
I think the college rule is far better than the high school rule: in the college rule if the pitch is in the batters box and hits the batter he gets 1st; if it is not in the box he doesn't

This will help stop the leaning (especially clear over the dang plate.

That's not quite true.

In NCAA if the pitch is in the box, the batter is not obliged to avoid it. However, he may still get a base when the pitch is outside of the box provided it is not in the strike zone and he attempted to avoid.

thanks for clarification... I still say the college rule is superior to the hs rule (especially when you have a guy on the mound without a decent fastball and these turds that lean out and get a free base. it's frustrating

I like the college rule much better. I cannot tell you how many times in the past few years we have had a kid hang in on a curve that doesn't take the break and gets hit. The ump doesn't give him first because there is no attempt to get out of the way, but if he dives out of the way and the curveball breaks, he gives up the pitch. I think the high school rule forgets that these kids are making this decision in a split second.

The box belongs to the hitter.... that is the bottom line! If the ball comes in there, I do not want him to get out of the way. There is a certain toughness factor in a team. I always preach to my guys to "stay strong" in the box and never back down.

Also, we set a team goal every year to get hit by 35 pitches in 35 games.

quote:

Originally posted by Hit it hard:
The box belongs to the hitter.... that is the bottom line! If the ball comes in there, I do not want him to get out of the way. There is a certain toughness factor in a team. I always preach to my guys to "stay strong" in the box and never back down.

Also, we set a team goal every year to get hit by 35 pitches in 35 games.

I see pitches come directly at a batter's face and knees and I wince when I hear a coach yell: "Wear it!" as the batter moves and avoids a shattered jaw or broken knee.

I played in high school and college and never had a coach who wanted to see me disabled. For that, I am thankful.

Jimmy-

Tuck and Turn buddy. No one should ever get hit directly in their face, elbow, or knee... I would hope that you learned how to "wear it" in all your playing experience. I know that I sure did!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Hit it hard:
Jimmy-

Tuck and Turn buddy. No one should ever get hit directly in their face, elbow, or knee... I would hope that you learned how to "wear it" in all your playing experience. I know that I sure did!!!

I did indeed learn "to tuck and turn."

I'm addressing the mindless repetition of a phrase by a coach when a tuck and turn is likely to still result in an injury.

Kids need to know when to take a hit and when to avoid one. A mantra chanted over and over by his coach doesn't teach that.

quote:

But way make every coach and umpire go to a rules interpretation waist two hour

Coach,
At the pro level, an umpire will give him the base because a) he's stupid enough to take a 90mph hardball or b) he could not get out of the way (froze).

Personally, we've been instructed to read the players mind (I kid you not....we're supposed to determine intent). It's Blank usually. So, I have called a ball or strike after a player's been hit when I FEEL he's leaned leaned into a pitch. It drives coaches and players nuts. Some umpires (usually low time and/or low level) are afraid to make this call because you KNOW it's going to be controversial.
If I were the coach I would calmly walk out and privately ask the umpire why he didn't keep 'em in the box. After that, I would (politely) tell him to have the courage to make the RIGHT call. He'll think twice next time.
Lastly, we are instructed to watch for the player leaning into a pitch. Notice I keep using the word LEANING.

therefump, well put. I'll remember your advice next time this happens. How ironic, I started this thread and horrifically a few days later a kid in south central Missouri gets killed buy a pitch. Life is sometimes very scary. you can't help but scratch your head and wonder why or how these things happen. just like every other player I guess we'll just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and keep doing the things we love, for this just shows us that life is too short. I'm sure if this kid could speak to us now he would say play ball and have fun.