Had a HP Umpire call a batter out for having her foot on home plate while bunting a ball.
The batter was a lefty and a slapper.
The likelyhood of a lefty stepping on HP when bunting is just so low,
especially how far forward in the box she was at point of contact,
that I had to question it.
He didn't budge on the call,
and it came at a very impactful point in the game that killed a come-from-behind rally as time ran out,
and left the game tied.
My question: Unless the umpire has made it a priority to look for this case,
how does one make this call? How does the umpire, who has to call balls/strikes, and then determine if a bunted ball is fair,
still look at the batter's feet and know if they are in contact with the plate at the moment of contact?
I don't see how that is possible.
And if the Batter steps on HP after contact, there is no infraction.
The batter was a lefty and a slapper.
The likelyhood of a lefty stepping on HP when bunting is just so low,
especially how far forward in the box she was at point of contact,
that I had to question it.
He didn't budge on the call,
and it came at a very impactful point in the game that killed a come-from-behind rally as time ran out,
and left the game tied.
My question: Unless the umpire has made it a priority to look for this case,
how does one make this call? How does the umpire, who has to call balls/strikes, and then determine if a bunted ball is fair,
still look at the batter's feet and know if they are in contact with the plate at the moment of contact?
I don't see how that is possible.
And if the Batter steps on HP after contact, there is no infraction.