Strike 3??????

[Rolling Hard]

TCS, 2 umps.
Count 2 and 2. Coach is calling out pitches on wristbands. Slow. He final call "457green", pitcher struggles to find it. 3 or 4 seconds go by and the batter hold up right hand while still looking at the pitcher and slowly steps out of the box. Pitcher never presented the ball let alone thru a pitch. FU, calls time and call PU over for a chat. PU ump then calls strike 3, batter out for stepping out of the box without direct permission from PU. The pitcher was no where near the act of pitching. Thoughts? I mean why does the FU feel the need to insert himself into this play/call.

 

[Lance Steckler]

MSU rule book strikes again.

 

[Agcy]

a- The batter has 10 seconds to be in the box with both feet after the ball is returned to the pitcher
b- Once the pitcher has brought her hands together, the batter cannot leave the box - penalty of a strike

I am guessing the umpires were trying to be technically correct in a very detailed ruling, but didn't quite have the details right and messed it up.

 

[Mike Hurd]

TCS, 2 umps.
Count 2 and 2. Coach is calling out pitches on wristbands. Slow. He final call "457green", pitcher struggles to find it. 3 or 4 seconds go by and the batter hold up right hand while still looking at the pitcher and slowly steps out of the box. Pitcher never presented the ball let alone thru a pitch. FU, calls time and call PU over for a chat. PU ump then calls strike 3, batter out for stepping out of the box without direct permission from PU. The pitcher was no where near the act of pitching. Thoughts? I mean why does the FU feel the need to insert himself into this play/call.

Just for clarification, pitcher never has to present the ball. Unless it's slowpitch.

 

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

TCS follows NFHS rules, so not sure how those differ from USA on this.

But in USA,
if the batter after entering the box, leaves the box for any non-allowed reason, the ball is dead, the umpire may warn or call a strike, any number of warnings can be given (and the rules supplement reads that a strike shall not be called without a warning).

and,

If the batter steps out while the ball is live (which presumably means the pitch is being delivered, because in the above rule the ball is "live" as well) to stop play unless the umpire has granted time, all play shall continue, and the pitch shall be called a ball or a strike.

 

[The Man In Blue]

I don't like that call ... but it sounds as if they got it right technically.

NFHS 7-3-1
SECTION 3 BATTING INFRACTIONS
ART. 1 . . . A batter shall not delay the game by failing to promptly take her position with both feet completely inside the batter's box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, or by stepping out of the box when the pitcher is on the pitcher's plate.

PENALTY: (Art. 1) If a pitcher has brought the hands together, the batter leaves the box at the risk of having a strike called while being out of position. For failure of the batter to be ready within 10 seconds after the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the umpire shall call a strike. If it is the third strike, the umpire shall call time and declare the batter out.

Note, the penalty and the rule say two different things. The rules says "when the pitcher is on the pitcher's plate" while the penalty says "If a pitcher has brought her hands together ..."


NOW ... CAN WE OUTLAW THE DARN WRISTBANDS???!!!!

 

[The Man In Blue]

Just for clarification, pitcher never has to present the ball. Unless it's slowpitch.

But the pitcher does have to simulate taking a sign from the catcher. I think "present" has become an inextricably misused term for this act (and/or the bringing together of the hands for the requisite amount of time).