Strike or foul?

[BretMan]

BretMan...the hands ARE considered part of the bat if the batter swings.....

Absolutely, totally, 100% FALSE.

I think the rule slightly confuses things in 3. by specifically mentioning the hands.

I'm not really sure which association's rule book that exerpt was taken from. But here is what appears at the end of the rule in the ASA rule book:

"NOTE: The batter's hands are not part of the bat."

Short, sweet and to the point!

Here is what the high school (NFHS) rule says:

"The batter's hands are not to be considered a part of the bat."

Further down under this same rule:

"If the batter is hit anywhere on the body, including the hands, while swinging at a pitch and hits the ball fair or foul, the ball is dead and a strike is called. If it is strike three the batter is out."

A little less short...but equally as sweet!

 

[knightsb]

I'm not really sure which association's rule book that exerpt was taken from.

BretMan, that was copy/pasted from the 2011 USSSA rule book. I have an older ASA PDF rule book and saw the similar wording.

 

[JAD]

If the ball hits a players hands while the player is swinging at a pitch it is considered a dead ball and a strike on the batter, and an out if a third strike, so technically the hands are NOT part of the bat since the ball cannot be put into play off the hands, but if a player gets hit by the pitch anywhere else it is considered a 'hit by pitch' and the batter is awarded first base. If a player does not swing at a pitch and is hit on the hands it is also considered a 'hit by pitch', so swinging at a pitch changes the 'designation' of the hands and I am open to suggestions on how to label them.....

 

[MTR]

If the ball hits a players hands while the player is swinging at a pitch it is considered a dead ball and a strike on the batter, and an out if a third strike, so technically the hands are NOT part of the bat since the ball cannot be put into play off the hands, but if a player gets hit by the pitch anywhere else it is considered a 'hit by pitch' and the batter is awarded first base. If a player does not swing at a pitch and is hit on the hands it is also considered a 'hit by pitch', so swinging at a pitch changes the 'designation' of the hands and I am open to suggestions on how to label them.....

No, it doesn't. The hands are part of the batter's person, period. A pitched ball which hits ANY part of the batter's person is always a dead ball. The only difference is whether it is call a strike, ball or HBP.

This thread is exactly why sanctioning bodies feel it necessary to add extraneous information noting that the hards are not part of the bat.

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

No, it doesn't. The hands are part of the batter's person, period. A pitched ball which hits ANY part of the batter's person is always a dead ball. The only difference is whether it is call a strike, ball or HBP.This thread is exactly why sanctioning bodies feel it necessary to add extraneous information noting that the hards are not part of the bat.

Under what scenario could a pitched ball that hits a batter be considered a "ball"?

 

[knightsb]

Under what scenario could a pitched ball that hits a batter be considered a "ball"?

EXCEPTION: If the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit, the hitting of
the batter is disregarded. The ball is dead immediately and is a strike or ball
depending on location of the pitch.

 

[Comp]

If the batter makes no attempt to avoid the pitch or if the batter purposely leans into a pitch, the batter remains at bat and it is a ball.

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

EXCEPTION: If the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit, the hitting of
the batter is disregarded. The ball is dead immediately and is a strike or ball
depending on location of the pitch.

Yes.

Another scenario would be if the batter swings at a pitch outside the strike zone and gets hit by the pitch, wouldn't that be called a "ball" too?

 

[Comp]

Yes.

Another scenario would be if the batter swings at a pitch outside the strike zone and gets hit by the pitch, wouldn't that be called a "ball" too?

A pitch that is swung at is a strike regarless of if the ball is in the zone or not. If the batter is swinging and is hit by the pitch, as already indicated, it is a dead ball strike.

 

[MTR]

Yes.

Another scenario would be if the batter swings at a pitch outside the strike zone and gets hit by the pitch, wouldn't that be called a "ball" too?

Still looking for the emoticons....Comp, have you seen them?