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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 104 anonymousDiscussion: batters box
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| Dec. 10, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | batters box I know the staff said no more rule topics for the meeting. But I would like to see the batters box briefly discussed. I caught about 1/2 our games last year and in every tourney the box was a little to greatly different. We had a number of our hitters called out over the season for being out of the box. Out, even though the ump admitted the lines looked wrong or off or they were gone and he was just guessing. I think the line up front should be there so a hitter doesn't close the distance toward the pitcher past the 4' allowed. It doesn't matter how far off the plate or how deep he stands, he must close that distance to defend the mat and hit the ball. Even in Phoenix, most of the lines were gone by the 2nd or 3rd inning anyway. I think all you need is the foul line, line of no return and the 4' line out front. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Players know the rule on it but largely ignore it because it is rare that a batter is called out for being out of the box, going foreword toward the pitcher of from outside stepping into it to hit the ball. Boxes should be chalked where possible and if a player tries to remove the markings should be called out for that as well. It has always been a part is the game and there for a reason. Some places only have the front line, but that leaves the guys who run up into the box wide open to continue it. Corners of the boxed should also have those field marker feeler implants and boxes chalked before all games. Shouldn't be too hard to distinguish the "line" if removed during the game. Box should be there. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 cal50 Men's 50 328 posts | All the batters box does is leave room for controversy. It does not bother me as I do not move in the box, but no reason for the batters box. Eliminate the potential for controversy, I have seen too many umpires make up a call and call people out for being out of the box. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Why don't we just get rid of all the rules that somehow everyone managed to play with for decades? =( |
| Dec. 11, 2011 RIK56 Men's 60 137 posts | gary you have played senior tournments is the box lined out correctly for senior softball. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | I think it's important to have the batters box. For example, as a pitcher if the batters aren't kept within the box it makes it impossible to pitch inside, if the batter is allowed to stand wherever he wants. The rule in NSA is that the batter must start entirely within the box, this means not standing on a line and can end up wherever he wants as long as both feet are in contact with some part of the box. Not sure what it is for SSUSA. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Honestly, I rarely pay attention since most of the time the line is quickly gone. Though I have had a number of discussion with umps who refuse the enforce the box when the lines are gone. So to them, in the absence of a lined batter's box, everyone is always in the box. Now I then ask them if, in the absence of foul lines, is every ball fair? FOFO, that is exactly correct. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 cal50 Men's 50 328 posts | FOFO, the problem with your reasoning is that the batters box is wider than the plate. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | RIK56 Yes and No. We played at Desert West in the worlds and the box was right on before the 1st game and if they relined it between games. The big ring tournaments are usually better than the qualifer type tournaments. We had a tourney this year where the front line was only about 10 inches in front of the mat, another where the back line was an inch behind the mat. I stand only about 12 to 14 inches off the plate and in South Bend 1/2 my foot was over the line. Regardless, catching often, I watch hitters stances, grips. swing arcs, strides etc. and regardless of where they start out, they all must step towards cover and defend the mat. Batter box lines are irrelevant except for the front line. |
