Odd Rules Question

SC Cougars were playing in wood bat tourney at Winthrop today and an odd play occurred...wondering what the proper rule interpretation is...

Runners on second and third, batter at the plate (Brett Lang) has one strike. Pitcher tries to come up and inside and the ball hits the batter on the hand as it appears that he is pulling back away from the pitch, but it also looks like the ball hit the knob of the bat as the ball goes into fair territory about half way to first base. First ruling by the umpire is foul ball strike two...but the ball is in fair territory. Some discussion with the coaches follows, and the ruling stands - strike two. (Thankfully, Brett hit the next pitch for an opposite field single to score both runners - nice job with a newly sore hand !)

The only thing we can think that would have made this call correct is that the umpire had to rule that the batter offered at the pitch when it hit him... What would the right call be in this situation?

 

If a batter swings at a pitch and the ball hits the batter it is a strike regardless of where the ball goes.

If the batter does not swing and it hits his hand than the batter is awarded first base by HP. Hands are not "part of the bat" as heard around many parks from time to time.

If the ball hits the knob of the bat and goes between the lines it is a live fair ball and should be played.

If the ball hits the knob of the bat and goes foul than it is foul.

 

What if...

Great reply - thanks.

What if the ball hits his hand AND the knob of the bat and stays in fair territory? Is it then dependent on which it hits FIRST?

i.e. if the ball hits his hand first, it is a dead ball and it does not matter what it hits after that and the batter is awarded first base as a hit batsman

OR

If the ball hits the knob of the bat first and then his hand it is a foul ball as the ball hits the batter while he is in the box (same as hitting the ball off his own foot while in the box...)

Is this right?

 

What sound does the umpire really hear!!!!!

Most umpires are going to call one or the other right away, either hit batter by ball hitting hand or fair or foul ball when it hits the knob BUT yes if it hits knob and then hits body you should call it a foul ball (hit batter while in the box). Hope this clears it up for you?

 

Would also like to add to this that if the umpire called it foul and the ball ended up in fair territory, the ball is foul and there is nothing the umpire can do to reverse this call. Once called foul, the ball is foul no matter what.

 

Batter should have acted.

Its a part of the game. Either you get infront and take the ball, or you dive. If the ball was close enough to the strike zone that he couldnt see it coming, than it would be hard to call HBP unless the player acts hurt to make it obvious. Otherwize, fair ball (the foul call make no sense, but is diplomatice, upsets both parties, but has no impact on the game, just leaves them confused)

 

if it hit his hand (at all-whether first,second, or last), then it CANNOT BE A FAIR BALL OR HIT--- It has to be a foul ball....or dead ball HBP !

 

once the ball is called foul it must stay foul as the team in the field will stop on the play. a ball called fair can be reversed and called foulf but not the othert way around.