When MUST the batter leave the box?

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Originally posted by Krakatoa:
I know the batter needs to get out of the way if a runner's coming in. But is the batter obligated to move out of the way (leave the box), for example, on something like a pop-up that goes straight up and is coming down right into the box area?

Yes. While he can't be expected to evaporate, he needs to vacate the area if he has reasonable time to do. He risks an inteference call if he does not. The fielder has the right to an unhindered play on the ball.

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Just a guess Krak...I'll say no.

The exception, of course, is if the batter looks up and can easily read "Baldwin"© on the object plummeting towards him.



At that point he should run, not walk, out of the box.





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Reason I ask is that, this past weekend, my batter popped one straight up over his head...didn't see where it went, catcher sort of knew it was up there somewhere.....and so my batter drifted across the plate into the area of the LH box and ended up being in the way there. The catcher still made the play, but I told the batter if this happens again and he can't find the ball, to just stay PUT. Had the catcher dropped this one, it would have seemed like interference because the guy wandered haplessly right into the downward trajectory of the ball.

Krak your post made me think of something that I was talking about at a recent game I was at. Have you ever sat back and just observed the way some people act when a routine pop up is heading into the stands? People are screaming , running , covering their heads , some are trying to get in position to make a play for the ball , some are laughing and some are sitting their talking and have no clue a baseball is about to fall on their head or has a chance to.

Its really funny to me just to watch the different reactions that people have to foul balls heading into the stands.

Yeah, Coach, there is always much screaming, thrashing about, and laughter. It's almost like they're in an invisible haunted house for a brief moment in time.

From a coaches point of view the batter must run to first. If the ball is that close to being fair, why is the batter drifting around between batter's boxes?

The umpire calls interference on the batter and the coach benches the batter for standing there instead of running.

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That makes sense! Good call Blprkfrnks.




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quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Its really funny to me just to watch the different reactions that people have to foul balls heading into the stands.

Coach May, I too enjoy the reactions. I was at a play off HS game a year or two ago and there is a high fly ball back into the stands, everyone jumping around, yelling and this bald guy sitting there on his cell phone completely oblivious to it all. The ball comes down and hits him right on the top of his head, bang!, and pops straight back up in the air. He has this big red mark square on the top of his head. I am surprised it did not knock him out. It was very funny(after we figured out he was OK) and I am sure he had a huge mark on his head for a few weeks Bet he puts his phone down next time.

quote:

Originally posted by Blprkfrnks:
From a coaches point of view the batter must run to first. If the ball is that close to being fair, why is the batter drifting around between batter's boxes?

The umpire calls interference on the batter and the coach benches the batter for standing there instead of running.

That's what I was thinking. Why is the batter still in the box?

I agree with those who say the batter should be running. Who knows where that pop up might drift and eventually land.

One of mine got an interference call once because he took an awkward swing on a hit and run call and leaned over the plate to try to make contact with a pitch that was way off the plate. Runner going to 2nd was called out. Weird, as the batter's feet never left the batter's box AND the catcher never attempted to throw the ball. I happened to be filming and I swear we've watched that 100 times to try and figure out what the ump thought he saw.

quote:

Originally posted by Krakatoa:
I know the batter needs to get out of the way if a runner's coming in. But is the batter obligated to move out of the way (leave the box), for example, on something like a pop-up that goes straight up and is coming down right into the box area?

I thought the batter owns the box. If there is a throw to third on a steal the batter doesn't have to move. If he does and interferes with the catchers throw, he's out and the runner must return to the base. Correct?

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"I swear we've watched that 100 times to try and figure out what the ump thought he saw."

I've watched it over and over too. If you watch it real close you'll catch the infraction.





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quote:

Originally posted by Blprkfrnks:
From a coaches point of view the batter must run to first. If the ball is that close to being fair, why is the batter drifting around between batter's boxes?

The umpire calls interference on the batter and the coach benches the batter for standing there instead of running.

As I tell my players, it isn't a foul ball until the umpire tells you it's a foul ball. You run until you hear the umpire say "foul ball".

I have it so drilled into my guys that they run all the bases when an umpire doesn't call it

quote:

Originally posted by '12catchersdad:

quote:

Originally posted by Krakatoa:
I know the batter needs to get out of the way if a runner's coming in. But is the batter obligated to move out of the way (leave the box), for example, on something like a pop-up that goes straight up and is coming down right into the box area?

I thought the batter owns the box. If there is a throw to third on a steal the batter doesn't have to move. If he does and interferes with the catchers throw, he's out and the runner must return to the base. Correct?

There is a difference between a throw to a base and a play at home. You are correct for a throw to a base. At home, again, while he can't just disappear, he must vacate the area if he has a reasonable amount to do so. A fielder always has the right to make an unhindered play. "Reasonable amount of time" is subjective and up to the umpire to determine.

You're right Woody! I see it now! How could we have missed it?

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Never watch a sausage race on an empty stomach...details will be missed!




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Coach Waltrip may not know when the batter leaves the box, but one of his boys knows when it leaves the can!






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quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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Coach Waltrip may not know when the batter leaves the box, but one of his boys knows when it leaves the can!






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And it's good with sausage too!!!!!

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Hey! There's only four little piggies pictured. What happened to number five? Oh yeah, I remember now...

That little piggy cried "Wee! Wee! Wee!" all the way home.

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