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Rob Kremer
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of Rob Kremer
Posted
Curious:
What would prevent an enterprising batter from getting on base in a close game by swinging at a two-strike obvious wild pitch just so he can get on base?

How late can the swing be before it is not a swing? If the batter were a quick enough thinker, he might see the ball was going to get past the catcher, make a swing and run to first.

Has anyone ever tried this on you? Isn't a "swing" defined as an intent to hit the ball? And so if a batter was just swinging to take advantage of the wild pitch, that wouldn't by definition be an attempt to hit the ball.

Ever seen this?
 
Posts: 1897 | Location: Portland, Oregon | Registered: January 03, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Emanski's Heroes
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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This wasn't exactly the same situation you talk about, but I saw something similar this past weekend watching UVA play in the Irvine regional. I believe Keith Werman was batting (against Steven Strasburg if I recall correctly), and had two strikes against him.

He checked his swing on a breaking ball that turned out to be a wild pitch. As he saw the pitch bouncing toward the backstop, he took off for first. I thought the checked swing wasn't close to being called a swing, so my first thought was "two strikes against Strasburg, that's probably his best chance to get on base". Looking back, he probably just figured there was no reason to take a chance on being rung up and not running, so it may have been a natural reaction rather than trying to "steal" his way on base (and I admittedly have no clue as to Werman's intentions).

It turns out it didn't matter, as the third base ump ruled no swing. It's one of the few times where the defensive team would come out to argue that the batter didn't swing and that there should not have been a srike out. But it made me think of the same question you ask. Could a hitter get on base this way?
 
Posts: 633 | Location: Richmond, VA | Registered: December 27, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Jimmy03
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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I remember one such instance in MLB. A batter with a 1-2 count took a swing at a wild pitch two to three feet over his head and then made it to first safely. The umpire, Doug Harvey, I believe, ruled the swing was not an attempt to hit the pitch and brought the runner back.

I don't know of a specific ruling in High School, but I would use the same logic if I ran into a similar situation.
 
Posts: 873 | Location: Local Ball Field | Registered: April 20, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
JMoff
Member
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So you call it a ball?
 
Posts: 380 | Location: Gilbert, AZ | Registered: January 13, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
00dave
New Member
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Similar question which I see happen and drives me nuts with a player of ours every so often.

A really great hitter has a 3-0 count and swings at an obvious ball to get another chance at a good pitch.

Same, "no attempt to hit the ball," but I've never seen ball 4 called on this.
 
Posts: 1 | Location: Provo, UT | Registered: June 23, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
dash_riprock
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
This wasn't exactly the same situation you talk about, but I saw something similar this past weekend watching UVA play in the Irvine regional. I believe Keith Werman was batting (against Steven Strasburg if I recall correctly), and had two strikes against him.

He checked his swing on a breaking ball that turned out to be a wild pitch. As he saw the pitch bouncing toward the backstop, he took off for first. I thought the checked swing wasn't close to being called a swing, so my first thought was "two strikes against Strasburg, that's probably his best chance to get on base". Looking back, he probably just figured there was no reason to take a chance on being rung up and not running, so it may have been a natural reaction rather than trying to "steal" his way on base (and I admittedly have no clue as to Werman's intentions).

It turns out it didn't matter, as the third base ump ruled no swing. It's one of the few times where the defensive team would come out to argue that the batter didn't swing and that there should not have been a srike out. But it made me think of the same question you ask. Could a hitter get on base this way?


I didn't see it, but in this situation (if there were runner(s), the proper mechanic would be for PU to IMMEDIATELY go to the appropriate BU and ask "DID HE GO?" without being asked.
 
Posts: 715 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: December 19, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
dash_riprock
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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quote:
Originally posted by JMoff:
So you call it a ball?

A pitch 2-3 feet over the head sounds like a ball to me. If the batter tomahawked it and got the bat up near the ball I'd call it an attempt, but a near-level swing, no way. Ball.
 
Posts: 715 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: December 19, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
TRhit
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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A swing is a swing---you umps are now making decisions outside the rules---is not an attempt to swing the same as a swing?


TRhit

THE KIDS TODAY DO NOT THROW ENOUGH !!!!!
www.collegeselect-trhit.blogspot.com
 
Posts: 22200 | Location: Not TX or Calif. | Registered: December 26, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
dash_riprock
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
A swing is a swing---you umps are now making decisions outside the rules---is not an attempt to swing the same as a swing?

All codes define a strike as (among other things) a "pitch which is struck at" and missed. I think we can tell the difference between a batter striking at a pitch and one trying to cheat his way on base. Nevertheless, if I ever, by some odd chance, get to do one of your games, I'll be happy to call it your way and ring up batters on their practice swings.

BTW - I sent you a PM a while back. Did you not receive it or just choose not to respond?
 
Posts: 715 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: December 19, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
critterump171
Member
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dash he not cheating is way on. In fact the catcher could of easily block the pitch and thrown to first be to retire the runner. This didn't happen. He swung if he swings its a strike if the ball is in the strike zone its a strike. If he foul the ball off its a strike if he foul tips its a strike in else there are two strikes he is out. This is no rule saying a batter cannot swing for a ball.
 
Posts: 29 | Location: google | Registered: April 11, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
piaa_ump
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of piaa_ump
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quote:
This is no rule saying a batter cannot swing for a ball.


Quote the rule to support your statement please......


In any code....FED, NCAA or OBR.....
 
Posts: 2394 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: January 07, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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