Question for Baseball guys.

[rudad02]

When I played & coached it was my belief that while up you could lean over the plate to get a ball down but you couldn't step on or over the plate.
On Michigan's squeeze the kid made a terrific effort to get the ball down on a low & away pitch, but he had to step way over the plate to do so. As I always understood it he should have been out.
Any thoughts.

 

[rubaseball78]

When I played & coached it was my belief that while up you could lean over the plate to get a ball down but you couldn't step on or over the plate.
On Michigan's squeeze the kid made a terrific effort to get the ball down on a low & away pitch, but he had to step way over the plate to do so. As I always understood it he should have been out.
Any thoughts.

I recall the play but don’t remember seeing where batters feet were. It is okay to lean over plate but both feet must be in box (white lines count as being in box). If he stepped out of box to bunt ball he should be called out. Again I don’t know where his feet were on this play.
Batters called out for being out of box is frequent in softball due to slap hitters. My daughters were slap hitters. Their first step was right foot back toward left foot, then a cross over step then right foot again. Done this way to stay in box.

 

[RCBeta79]

Rutgers vs Michigan - Michigan Batter with two outs is hit with a pitch in the elbow and the elbow was hanging over the strike zone (batter did not try to avoid contact). The umpires reviewed the pitch on video and the Michigan batter was awarded first base, and a three-run homer followed later in the inning running the score to 8-2. The umpires should have called the better out for strike three.

• The batter while standing legally in the batter’s box (not attempting to hit or bunt) and the pitch is IN the strike zone:

Ruling: Strike, dead ball​

 

[rubaseball78]

Rutgers vs Michigan - Michigan Batter with two outs is hit with a pitch in the elbow and the elbow was hanging over the strike zone (batter did not try to avoid contact). The Michigan batter was awarded first base and a three run homer followed later in the inning running the score to 8-2.

• The batter while standing legally in the batter’s box (not attempting to hit or bunt) and the pitch is IN the strike zone:

Ruling: Strike, dead ball​

That was a different play. And I thought umps made wrong call.

 

[rudad02]

I recall the play but don’t remember seeing where batters feet were. It is okay to lean over plate but both feet must be in box (white lines count as being in box). If he stepped out of box to bunt ball he should be called out. Again I don’t know where his feet were on this play.
Batters called out for being out of box is frequent in softball due to slap hitters. My daughters were slap hitters. Their first step was right foot back toward left foot, then a cross over step then right foot again. Done this way to stay in box.

Both feet were past the plate. He really had to go out to get it. Ump was right on top of the play. Surprised RU didn't beef.

 

[rubaseball78]

If they were in front of the plate, he should be called out on contact. By the way if no contact made no penalty.
You are right, surprised it was not questioned.

 

[DC8690]

I saw the same thing as you, he should have been called out immediately since he was out of the batters box when he made contact, but I couldn’t rewind to make sure that’s what actually happened. I also thought our catcher should have run into the batter and that should have been Called obstruction but with no contact there is no call.

 

[rudad02]

I saw the same thing as you, he should have been called out immediately since he was out of the batters box when he made contact, but I couldn’t rewind to make sure that’s what actually happened. I also thought our catcher should have run into the batter and that should have been Called obstruction but with no contact there is no call.

Saw it in real time & watched a couple replays they showed.

 

[nukem]

What did you guys think about the first pitcher for Michigan and his pick off move? I thought it was a balk move because he was crossing his right foot what looked like past the rubber and definitely past his left leg. Definitely had our guys almost picked a couple of times and our coaches were definitely arguing it.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Are we saying that Rutgers does not incorporate enough gamesmanship when competing?

 

[rubaseball78]

What did you guys think about the first pitcher for Michigan and his pick off move? I thought it was a balk move because he was crossing his right foot what looked like past the rubber and definitely past his left leg. Definitely had our guys almost picked a couple of times and our coaches were definitely arguing it.

One was borderline. Rest were ok.

 

[nukem]

One was borderline. Rest were ok.

Ok.

 

[rudad02]

Didn't watch the last 2 innings, but just saw that Michigan squeezed home another run in the 9th. That's the kind of ball I like. Don't just stand around waiting for a hit. Mix in aggressive manufactured runs with hits. Not mutually exclusive. Don't see Owens playing that kind of ball.

 

[rubaseball78]

Didn't watch the last 2 innings, but just saw that Michigan squeezed home another run in the 9th. That's the kind of ball I like. Don't just stand around waiting for a hit. Mix in aggressive manufactured runs with hits. Not mutually exclusive. Don't see Owen's playing that kind of ball.

Actually scored 2 runs on the 9th inning squeeze. We used to practice that with my girls softball teams. If we had 2nd and 3rd with a fast runner on second worked high percentage of time. Players tend to focus first on runner coming home and then getting the out at first forgetting about other runner just as RU did. With a fast runner they are rounding 3rd while throw is being made to first. It’s a demoralising play for the opponent.

 

[rudad02]

Actually scored 2 runs on the 9th inning squeeze. We used to practice that with my girls softball teams. If we had 2nd and 3rd with a fast runner on second worked high percentage of time. Players tend to focus first on runner coming home and then getting the out at first forgetting about other runner just as RU did. With a fast runner they are rounding 3rd while throw is being made to first. It’s a demoralising play for the opponent.

Yes it is demoralizing, as is the run & bunt with the runner breaking from 1st, the batter laying the ball down[preferably down toward 3rd] & the runner never stopping at 2nd on the throw to first but coming right around & into 3rd. Often results on a bad throw from 1st to 3rd & a run scored. First baseman is usually trying to hit a moving SS who is racing to cover 3rd or a back peddling 3rd baseman.