COBUA Local Rule Meeting 03/19/2007  Agenda  Announcements  Rule 7 Batting

COBUA 3/19/2007 Announcements

Batting Frank Grubb

Bats and Equipment  Pre-game bat and helmet check Two umpires – check them together  Check for BESR certification on all Non-wood bats Must be silk Screened or permanently labeled on the bat No longer able to use stickers, decals or other temporary labels  Check for flat spots Run your hand over the bat and you will feel it if there is one. Small Dents in the bat are o.k. and are not to be considered a flat Spot. Use common sense when check for flat spots

Bats and Equipment (con’t)  Pre-game bat and helmet check (con’t) Helmets  Must have the NOCSEA stamp  Check for broken and cracked ear flaps and cracks where the bill meats the ear flap. If the helmet is cracked remove it Tape is NOT an acceptable repair method  Face Masks must be either attached to the helmet at the time of Manufacturing or it can be attached after manufacturing but must be specifically made for the helmet, provided that procedure is approved by the manufacturer and meets NOCSEA standard.

Rule 7 Batting  Position and Batting Order Player shall take his position within the batters box, on either side of home plate, in the ORDER in which his name appears on the lineup card.

BATTING ORDER  When a player bats out of order, the proper batter is the player called out upon proper appeal  After an improper player has completed his turn at bat - one pitch, one play, or one attempted play legalizes this batter an no further appeal may be made  The proper batter may replace the improper batter at any time before he completes his time at bat and the proper batter assumes the count  In straightening out a batter out of order situation - when the proper batter is on base, skip the proper batter and bring up the batter who follows him

BATTING OUT OF ORDER Situations  For all of the following situations, the batting order is: (1) Abel, (2) Baker, (3) Charles, (4) Daniel, (5) Edward, (6) Frank, (7) George, (8) Hank, (9) Irwin  (1)It is Baker’s turn to bat but Charles erroneously steps up to the plate. With the count of three balls and no strikes to Charles, someone notifies the umpire that Charles is batting out of order. What do you do?  Regardless of who points out the error, Baker now comes to bat with a count of 3-0 with no further penalty.

BATTING OUT OF ORDER Situations (2) It is Abel’s turn to bat but Charles erroneously comes to bat. Charles hits a double. Able comes to bat and strikes out. Baker comes to bat and strikes out. It’s Charles’ turn to bat but Charles is on second base. Now the defense tells you that there is an infraction. What do you do?  Once Abel completed his time at bat and no appeal was made, Abel became a legalized improper batter. Baker now follows the legalized improper batter and therefore Baker’s at bat is proper. Now since Charles is still on base, you skip him and Daniel now becomes the proper batter. Therefore at this point, you have Charles at second base and Daniel is up to bat.

BATTING OUT OF ORDER Situations (3) Abel is on second base and Baker is on first base. Daniel erroneously bats and during his at bat, Abel steals third and Baker steals second. Daniel then bunts the ball scoring Abel and moving Baker to third while Daniel is thrown out at first on the play. The defense properly appeals that Daniel batted out of order. What is your full ruling?  Charles, the proper batter, is out on the appeal. Abel is returned to third and Baker to second and Daniel is now the proper batter. The advance of Abel from second to third and Baker from first is second is legal.

BATTING OUT OF ORDER Situations  (4) Edward singles and then George erroneously bats and hits into a double play. The defense properly appeals that George batted out of order. What is your full ruling? Frank, the proper batter, is out on the appeal. The proper batter now becomes George. According to 7-1-2b EXCEPTION, any outs made on the play stand and an out for batting out of order supersedes an out by the improper batter on the play. Therefore, Frank’s out for the error penalty replaces the out against George on the play. As a result, Edward is out, Frank is out on the penalty and George comes to at with the bases empty and two outs.

BATTING OUT OF ORDER  Once an improper batter completes his at bat, only the defense can appeal the batting out of order. All outs stand during the at bat All plays that are not a result of the improper batters at bat stand during the at bat are legal (i.e. stolen bases, balks, wild pitches or passed balls).

Strikes, Balls and Hits  A strike is charged to the batter when A pitch enters any part of the strike zone in flight and is not struck A pitch is struck at and missed (even if the pitch touches the batter) A pitch become foul and the batter has less than two strikes A pitch becomes foul from an attempted bunt A batter delays  A ball is credited to the batter when a pitch is not touched by the bat, not a strike or an illegal pitch or pitching delay

Case Book Play  Situation A: With F1 having a hard time throwing strikes, the coach of the team at bat instructs B1 to assume an exaggerated crouch stance to lessen his strike zone. F1’s first pitch is directly over the plate, but approximately chin high, which the umpire calls a strike. The coach of the team at bat requests time to ask the umpire how he is determining the batter’s strike zone

Case Book Play (cont) Ruling: The umpire informs the coach that the strike zone is the space over home plate which is halfway between the batter’s shoulders and his waistline and the knees when B1 assumes his natural batting stance. If a batter assumes an exaggerated stance such as crouching, the umpire shall use his judgment to determine what a natural batting stance would be for the batter.

Check Swing Mechanics  How are we calling check swings and when? Use your left hand to go to your partner If the coach asks get help, it will save you in the long run What constitutes a swing  Intent to hit the ball  Barrel of bat in front of front hip or in front of front edge of the plate

FAIR BALL  A Fair Ball is a batted ball (a pitch that is touched by a bat) which: Settles on fair territory between home & 3rd or between home & 1st or Contacts fair ground on or beyond an imaginary line between 1st & 3rd or Which is on or over fair ground when bounding to the outfield past 1st or 3rd base or First falls on fair ground on or beyond 1st or 3rd base or

FAIR BALL - CONT’D  A Fair Ball is a batted ball (a pitch that is touched by the bat of the batter who is in his box) which: Touches 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base While on or over fair territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, their clothing, or equipment or While over fair ground passes out of the playing field in flight

FOUL BALL  A Foul is a batted ball (a pitch that is touched by the bat) which: Settles on foul territory between home & 1st or home & 3rd or Bounds past 1st or 3rd on or over foul territory or First falls on foul territory beyond 1st or 3rd or While on or over foul territory touches the person of an umpire or a player or any object foreign to the natural ground

FAIR OR FOUL – TIPS for calling  Position of the ball, not the player is the determining factor in deciding fair or foul  A ball which contacts a bat that was unintentionally left in fair territory is not yet known if it is fair or foul, depends on where the ball is touched or comes to rest  A ball which contacts a bat that was unintentionally left in foul territory is a foul ball

FOUL TIP  A Foul Tip is a batted ball that: Goes directly to the catcher’s hands (or mitt) and Is legally caught by any fielder  The ball stays in play and is a Strike  If the ball 1st hits the mitt, then contacts the chest protector and is then caught, it is a foul tip  If the ball 1st hits the chest protector and then is caught, it is a dead ball and an uncaught foul

INTERFERENCE WITH CATCHER  Cannot interfere with throw or fielding By leaning over home plate Stepping out of box or any other movement which hinders attempt Failing to make reasonable effort to leave congested area when there is a throw to home and there is time to move away  Batter responsible for follow through of bat; catcher must have opportunity to field or throw

INTERFERENCE WITH CATCHER  PENALTY Less than Two Out  If put out successful, ignore interference  If put out not successful: Batter out and Runner returns. Unless Runner is coming home, than runner is out  If batter strikes out, runner could also be out. With multiple runners, call out R where play made or R closest to home if uncertain of play Two Outs  Batter is out

INTERFERENCE WITH CATCHER  PENALTY - CONTD. Typically this is a delayed dead ball. If defense does not have opportunity to make a play, it is an immediate dead ball.  REMEMBER Batter does not have to move so that catcher can throw Batter does not have to leave box if there is no time to do so

BAT BREAKS  If bat breaks and hits the ball, a runner, or fielder No interference and ball stays in play  If whole bat is thrown and interferes with defense attempting a play Interference is called; ball is dead Batter is out and runners return Two can be out if a double play was prevented

BATTER’S BOX  If Batter hits the ball (fair or foul) while either foot touching is completely outside the lines of box or touching home plate BATTER IS OUT AND BALL IS DEAD  NOTE: Feet must be in box when taking stance When contacting pitched ball, ok if foot is outside of line as long as line is touched OK if one foot is in box and other is in air when ball is contacted

BATTER’S BOX Keeping one foot in during time at bat  To avoid delaying game, batter must keep at least one foot in box unless: Swings at pitch Forced out of the box by the pitch Attempted drag bunt The pitcher or catcher attempts or feints a play at any base

BATTER’S BOX Keeping one foot in during time at bat Pitcher leaves dirt or moves more than five feet from plate after receiving the ball A time out is granted for either team Catcher leaves box to adjust equipment or give defensive signals The catcher does not catch the pitched ball  Batter must not delay the game by failing to be in the box within 20 seconds after the pitcher has the ball

BATTER’S BOX CONTD.  PENALTY If leaves box and none of exceptions apply, and he delays the game:  Strike is called  Pitcher does not have to pitch  Ball stays alive  Note: If the pitcher does pitch, two strikes are called (it does not matter where the 2nd pitch was located)

BATTER’S BOX CONT’D.  If a batter leaves the box, and does not delay the game, shall be allowed to return with no penalty.  It is umpire judgment as to whether or not the batter delayed the game.  Umpires should use solid judgment to apply the rule correctly and penalize when appropriate.

BATTER IS OUT WHEN: Caught 3rd strike (by catcher or any fielder if the ball rebounds from first touching the catcher’s glove or hand) Attempted bunt on 3rd strike is foul Runner at first, less than 2 out, and 3rd strike not caught Foul fly catch prevented by spectator reaching into field of play, or by member of offense Enters box with an illegal bat or is discovered to have used an illegal bat. If discovered before next pitch, defense can take play or penalty (out)

BATTER IS OUT WHEN: CONT’D  Infield fly  Intentionally deflects a foul ball which has a chance of becoming fair  Intentionally interferes with catcher’s attempt to field the ball after a 3rd strike  Fair fly, fair line drive, fair bunt in flight is intentionally dropped with 1st occupied and less than two are out

BATTER IS OUT WHEN : CONT’D  After a hit or a bunt, intentionally contacts the ball with the bat a second time in fair or foul territory  After a hit or a bunt is contacted by the ball in fair territory  Disconcerts pitcher by stepping from one box to the other while pitcher is in position to pitch (ball is dead immediately) May change boxes before pitcher is in position if “Time” is granted

BATTER IS OUT WHEN: CONT’D  He enters the game as an illegal substitute and is discovered  Team is playing with eight, and that turn to bat is reached  Any runner violates the force play slide rule  Any runner or retired runner interferes in a way which obviously hinders an obvious double play

BATTER IS OUT WHEN: CONT’D  On a dropped third strike he gives up by entering the bench or “dugout area” Note: he establishes his base line from where he is when he attempts to go to first base  With two outs, he does not attempt to reach first base before all infielders leave the diamond at the end of the half inning

A BATTER IS OUT WHEN: CONT’D  Runs outside 3’ lane while ball is being fielded or thrown to first base Ignored if outside to avoid fielder or if act does not interfere with a fielder or a throw Is considered outside lane if either foot is outside either line A throw must be made Throw must be from approx. behind runner

HIT BY A PITCH  A batter shall not permit a pitch to hit him If you have any doubt, award first base Know how the batter reacted, did the knees buckle?, was he frozen on a breaking pitch?, did he move into the pitch or lower his shoulder? Look for some effort to avoid being hit unless he was completely fooled  The ball is dead, and the pitch is a strike or a ball depending on the location of the pitch

HIT BY A PITCH CONT’D  If a batter’s loose garment such as an untucked shirt, is touched by a pitched ball, the batter is not awarded first base  The ball is dead and the pitch is a ball or a strike depending on the location of the pitch  Use preventative officiating, and have the batter secure his garments before batting

Thank You for Attending  Turn in the Back copy of your attendance Card  Clean up Around you  Next Meeting is March 26,  Vila Nova after the meeting.