Bretman wrote:The umpire that told you that had it wrong.
High school/NFHS softball adopted that rule (holding bat in strike zone equals "an offer") last year. NCAA has had the same rule in place for some time.
The ASA rules still require the batter to make some movement to touch the ball in order for it to be ruled as an offer. In their game, if the bat is held stationary over the plate the pitch is ruled a ball or strike based on its relation to the strike zone.
MTR wrote:Bretman wrote:The umpire that told you that had it wrong.
High school/NFHS softball adopted that rule (holding bat in strike zone equals "an offer") last year. NCAA has had the same rule in place for some time.
The ASA rules still require the batter to make some movement to touch the ball in order for it to be ruled as an offer. In their game, if the bat is held stationary over the plate the pitch is ruled a ball or strike based on its relation to the strike zone.
I think ASA has it right and consistant with the definition of a strike.
The other is just a lazy man's call. Now you have a conundrum. If they don't pull it back, it is a strike. If they pull it back and the umpire believes it interfered with the catcher, the batter is out.
shagpal wrote:Rationale: Changing the definition will make the bunt attempt easier for an umpire to determine and creates a better balance between offense and defense.
what is "lazy" about it? because it's easier? what is wrong with simplifying things for game sake?
what benefit to the game is there for a maintaining a seemingly more complicated rule, to give the umpire more rules and power to rule on?
MTR wrote:shagpal wrote:Rationale: Changing the definition will make the bunt attempt easier for an umpire to determine and creates a better balance between offense and defense.
That belief in itself is a load of crap. It doesn't meet the requirements of a strike by definition.what is "lazy" about it? because it's easier? what is wrong with simplifying things for game sake?
I wasn't aware that making something easier was part of a competitive game. WTF, lets just call every ball the bounces twice on the dirt or once in the grass a single, twice in the grass a double, three times in the grass a triple and anything else a HR? There you go, can't get much simpler than that. And it makes it cheaper since you no longer need bases, just keep adding the number of bases earned in an inning to keep score. Hell, now we can even play this game from home on a Wii, no need for a field or umpires!!! For that matter, I guess we can dump the coaches, too.what benefit to the game is there for a maintaining a seemingly more complicated rule, to give the umpire more rules and power to rule on?
You mean the rule that has been in use for more than a century with no problems? It isn't hard for anyone willing to actually go out and do the job for which they are being paid. But I must say one thing. You have now convinced me it is not only a change to laziness, but also another move to dumb down a relatively simple game for those who are too damn stupid to get out of their own way.
Imperial SB Dad wrote:We had an umpire in our fall league tell us that the bat had to move forward towards the ball to be considered an attempt to bunt the ball. This was after a batter had moved the bat up and down vertically over the plate as the pitch passed over the plate. He ruled the pitch a ball based on it's location.
Imperial SB Dad wrote:We had an umpire in our fall league tell us that the bat had to move forward towards the ball to be considered an attempt to bunt the ball. This was after a batter had moved the bat up and down vertically over the plate as the pitch passed over the plate. He ruled the pitch a ball based on it's location.