foot on plate when batting ball

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May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
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.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Stepping on or in front of home plate is actually a very easy infraction to see, it is directly in front of you. Stepping out the front of the box is much harder to see.

Not sure what you are asking about how does one make the call. If you see it, dead ball, batter out. Fair or foul would be determined after the ball was hit, so is not even a consideration at the time of contact.
 
Nov 6, 2013
771
16
Baja, AZ
Don't mean to get off topic, but I score this scenario as 2U. Anyone know differently? Our GameChanger parents usually score it as "Out!."
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
After contact means nothing...a right handed batter steps in front of or maybe on the plate every time they run to first.

During a bunt it is actually pretty obvious given the batter squares around if their leg comes around same with cross over steps and slappers you don't call it unless you see it but when you see it you make the call.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
I still don't see how you can make the call on a slapper, in motion, drag bunting.

How do you see her foot on the plate, at the instant of contact, and still monitor pitch location and/or determine if she pulls back or offers on a miss, etc.
The feet are in motion, so how do you definitively say she was on the plate at contact?
If you look down just after contact and see her foot on the plate is not good enough, IMO.
If she was stationary, and squared, then yes you can make that call. But very difficult to multi-task well enough to make that call on a slapper/drag bunter.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
It's called so infrequently that it seems logical that it was obvious to the PU? Are you saying that she wasn't on the plate or that you
don't think he could have observed it?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
I still don't see how you can make the call on a slapper, in motion, drag bunting.

How do you see her foot on the plate, at the instant of contact, and still monitor pitch location and/or determine if she pulls back or offers on a miss, etc.
The feet are in motion, so how do you definitively say she was on the plate at contact?
If you look down just after contact and see her foot on the plate is not good enough, IMO.
If she was stationary, and squared, then yes you can make that call. But very difficult to multi-task well enough to make that call on a slapper/drag bunter.

As I already stated, when the batter steps on or in front of the plate it is not nearly as difficult as you like to think. Umpires are instructed to give the benefit of the doubt to the batter and only make the call if they are 100% sure. The umpire made the call and stuck with his call, you may not like it but it is what it is. By the sound of your initial post it seems to be one of those cases where the attitude is, how can you make that call in that situation that late in the game? The rules of the game dont change depending on the inning or the score. If the umpire saw the infraction they should call it regardless of the game situation.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
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.

Did you actually expect an umpire to budge on a call like that?

HC; blue are you serious with that call
PU: Yes
HC: at this time of the game
PU: yes
HC: how could you see that
PU: Its right in front of me
HC: Are you sure
PU: Yes
HC: I don't understand how you can make that call
PU: well you didn't understand, that changes everything, we can reverse that call and allow your batter/runner to take first base.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
Did you actually expect an umpire to budge on a call like that?

no. I actually never, ever expect an umpire to "budge" on any call they make.
normally, I just mutter quietly to myself and move on, but in this instance I really wanted to hear what exactly his observations were.
A lefty batter, slap bunting on a pitch that was not thrown outside doesn't seem very conducive to this call.
His reply to my inquiry wasn't at all convincing, either.

and I suppose I shouldn't have mentioned the call was "impactful" to the outcome of the game,
because that was not the point of this post.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
no. I actually never, ever expect an umpire to "budge" on any call they make.
normally, I just mutter quietly to myself and move on, but in this instance I really wanted to hear what exactly his observations were.
A lefty batter, slap bunting on a pitch that was not thrown outside doesn't seem very conducive to this call.
His reply to my inquiry wasn't at all convincing, either.

and I suppose I shouldn't have mentioned the call was "impactful" to the outcome of the game,
because that was not the point of this post.
I would think they were something like "she was on home plate when she bunted"

I'm not sure I understand your question. He saw something and called it.
 

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