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Online now: 2 members: 15smokey, TABLE SETTER 11; 134 anonymousDiscussion: Is it a strike if ball hits front edge of strike mat and also kicks up some dirt?
| Posted | Discussion |
| May 13, 2016 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | Is it a strike if ball hits front edge of strike mat and also kicks up some dirt? Our senior league uses the official strike mat as stated in the rules. It is about one inch thick wood. The rules state that if the ball hits the strike mat, it is a strike. What happens when the ball hits the front edge of the mat and also kicks up some dirt? Especially if the ball hits the edge and the dirt at the same time. I realize if the ball hits the dirt first then continues to hit the front edge, it is a ball. There is nothing in the rules that takes this into consideration, and is left as a judgement call for the umpire. In our league, we self-umpire ourselves. What are your thoughts? |
| May 13, 2016 k man Men's 65 326 posts | Turbo, you yourself said: ball hits the front edge of the mat. Don't see the confusion. Strike. |
| May 13, 2016 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | k man, so you are saying that even if the ball hits the front of the mat and also kicks up some dirt, indicating the ball hit the ground at the same time as hitting the mat, it is a strike? Just want to make sure. |
| May 13, 2016 k man Men's 65 326 posts | just my opinion based on how I've seen things called over the years. Never been an umpire so maybe others with experience will also chime in. |
| May 13, 2016 OZ40 549 posts | As long as the arc requirement is met it seems that the upper edge of the board/matt would be struck by the ball before the dirt. It has to be pretty clear that the ball hit the dirt first before I'll call ball. Sometimes, the ball lands on the boards edge with enough of a thud that it forces a little air from underneath it to blow up a little dirt. |
| May 13, 2016 The Screamer5 Men's 60 69 posts | As an umpire, I get hear this ALL the time. Batters complain that the ball hit the ground first and then bounced up and hit the front of the strike mat. I guess that can happen, but in my opinion if the ball hits the front edge of the strike mat and the ground in front of the mat simultaneously (thus kicking up a little dirt)...that's a STRIKE in my book. |
| May 14, 2016 k man Men's 65 326 posts | btw, shouldn't be any different than if it hits the side edge or the back edge. |
| May 16, 2016 neck10 714 posts | but just think if the ball bounds upward and back toward pitcher then its a ball if it hit's and keeps going toward catcher it's a ball then there would be no dirt or conflict. |
| May 16, 2016 Dancer 115 posts | We call it a cheap strike, but still a strike. and most likely the pitcher can't do it twice in a row and the next pitch might be a little deeper. If I already have two strikes on me, I am going to defend the plate, if the ball is even near the plate. |
| May 16, 2016 Don5 Men's 75 69 posts | In 2017 they will be using square spongy balls, much like the stote ball now, that should make for easy umpire calls muck easier. :) |
| May 16, 2016 Don5 Men's 75 69 posts | Yes I used the word "muck" that wasn't a typo, most of you will understand. |
| May 16, 2016 garyheifner 649 posts | Have had the post happen many times. Quite often, the ump has ruled it hit the dirt 1st and is therefore a ball. Had several rule hit both at the same time and is a strike. In truth, the ump is between a rock and a hard spot. I found it is not worth bitching about. Just move on. |
| May 17, 2016 patrick jt Men's 65 63 posts | did someone strike out |
| May 18, 2016 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | Thanks for all of your input, which is what I asked for. I believe the fairest way for me to act on this situation is to consider it a strike unless there is real good proof that the ball hit the dirt first, in which case it is definitely a ball. |
| Oct. 25, 2016 Boom Boom 1 Men's 60 12 posts | If the ball bounces up and never crosses the plate isn't that a ball? A pitched ball has to cross the plate. I think it's the umpire's strike zone. Some umpires call it & some don't. Just like in baseball, some umpires have a high strike zone, other's have low strike zones. But it's the umpire's call either way. Shouldn't make a difference, HIT THE BALL! |
| Oct. 25, 2016 B94 Men's 50 138 posts | If you are using a one inch thick piece of wood as a plate it should be a pretty easy call to make on the front edge as the direction the ball travels and the sound on contact with the plate will tell you a lot. If it kicks back toward the pitcher it's a strike as it had to hit the plate first. If the ball hits the plate and continues toward the catcher it very likely hit the dirt first and skipped up off the plate. The tough one will be when the ball goes almost vertically off the plate as that will be where it would have hit both the ground and the plate almost simultaneously. I'm probably calling that a strike too. The thinner the plate (and if it's rubber as opposed to wood) the tougher the close pitch is to call but if it's that close the batter should have hit it on a 2 strike count - other than that it's up to him if he wants to chance it... |
| Oct. 25, 2016 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | Boom Boom 1 • In SSUSA sanctioned events, a pitched ball must only hit the strike mat. It does not have to cross the strike mat completely. A ball that hits the front (or side) edge of the mat and bounces away is both an excellent pitch and a strike. |
| Oct. 25, 2016 DieselDan Men's 75 600 posts | Having the dirt in front of the plate cleared away periodically might cut down on the flying dirt. |
| Oct. 26, 2016 Bobby Buggs 90 posts | I hate those front edge ankle biters. Being new to the Senior game after 30 years of the plate not being a strike its already awkward for me to be looking for strikes that far up in the box never mind the front edge of the plate. Definitely an adjustment. |
| Oct. 26, 2016 JT25 Men's 50 54 posts | I wish SSUSA would go to a 1 inch wood strike mat because when the ball hits the wood there leaves no question that its a strike!!! It makes that sound or it will change direction if it hits the edge. Unlike the flat rubber strike mat you don't know if it hit the dirt or the mat when it is close to the edge. |
| Oct. 26, 2016 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Where you guys living, in the twilight zone. A strike is a strike 'cheap' or in the middle of the dame thing. Pitchers job (or was mine at least) is to hit it how ever he can & try to keep batter from hitting or getting on base. Front, back, side to side, corners and edges are fun too. |
| Oct. 28, 2016 bkb555 301 posts | JT....if you put a 1 inch strike mat for a strike, you KNOW somebody is going to fall, trip, stumble at least once an inning over it......the sound/noise part is good but the physical part of it is the problem.... |
| Oct. 29, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | bkb555, seems like that would be the case, doesn't it? We have been using the one-inch strike mat board for a couple of years, off and on, in league play. In approximately 100 games, not ONCE has anybody tripped, fallen, or stumbled on it, and in a few cases the catcher had securer footing making a play at home where with a rubber mat he might have slipped with his back foot. Also, not once on a play at home has a thrown ball hit the mat and careened away (nor does this happen with a regular mat). We have become quite used to it, and many defensive players prefer the sound of the smack on the board. It also helps our volunteer umpires be more accurate on close ball/strike calls. |
