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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 66 anonymousDiscussion: Wipe away front line of the box?
| Posted | Discussion |
| Oct. 19, 2019 lowprofile 65 posts | Wipe away front line of the box? Just throwing this out there, would it be possible to eliminate the front line of the box? as we all can see, not all umps enforce this rule and it gets blatantly abused. Players get pissed because they just got called out for stepping out of the box, saw it in Vegas. The one common denominator is everyone lines up there back foot with the plate and stride forward out of the box with there front foot. We have adult bodies and all were doing is picking up our front foot and striding forward with it, were not charging the pitcher and then swinging, but just seems like we should be able to pickup our front foot and stride to the ball. Lemme know any opinions or where I'm wrong with this? if it's a hit the pitcher thing...maybe putting up a screen could solve the problem of pitchers safety with or without the front line gone. All just a thought. |
| Oct. 19, 2019 lowprofile 65 posts | Forgot to add...my thinking is as long as the back foot stays within the mat area when swinging then it should be ok, almost all batters back foot always stay within the mat while swinging. again just a thought lol. |
| Oct. 19, 2019 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | As long as it's in the rule book, you will have a front line. You'd have to attend the annual rules meeting to present your case for a rule change vote. Good luck... |
| Oct. 19, 2019 L 85 posts | Sounds like you want another 2-3 feet to hit with which the pitcher already has a short distance to field the ball even adding the extra that they can go back from the pitching rubber. I am not saying that is what you do but others might do. |
| Oct. 19, 2019 TimMcElroy 942 posts | I might be more open to changing the batter's box rules if scoring was down or if HR numbers were down. That's simply not the case. There is no lack of offense in senior ball under the current rules. As to your suggestion that senior softball eliminate the front lines of the box- I say NO. I'd actually prefer that umps start making the out call on a more frequent and consistent basis. If the lines are "accidentally" wiped away during the course of the game, umpires should start making the call based on where they believe the lines once were (sounds crazy, but it sure would stop some of these casual line wipers from doing what they do). |
| Oct. 19, 2019 DaveDowell Men's 70 4318 posts | I know I represent only one vote (of 13) on the National Rules Committee, so I speak only for myself ... I will be voting to maintain all four sides/lines of the batter's box only so long as that is the configuration in MLB should this proposal somehow (miraculously) make it to the Committee Meeting Agenda ... |
| Oct. 19, 2019 Awg-dawg 5 posts | The only time I’ve ever seen it enforced was this year at BLD. |
| Oct. 19, 2019 lowprofile 65 posts | L, No that is not what I do! I'm just stating a fact of batters stepping out of the box and some getting called out...and ALOT not! another 2-3 feet? how do you figure that? nothing changes, if everyone still like I stated....keeps there back foot within the plate which 90 percent do, then you have no issue with umpire having to call you out...or not. Most batters line up in mid or the front of the plate with there BACK foot and it doesn't move when swinging, just the front foot strides...OUT of the box (2 to 3 feet? lmbo). This was just a thought, just wanting some feedback, I know it's not gonna change, and L I cant remember the last time I was called out for stepping OUT of the box. Hey Awe-dawg, thinking its just some umps do and some don't call it but ty sir. BLD seems to have bigger boxes than SSUSA sanctioned boxes, but I could be wrong? |
| Oct. 20, 2019 DaveDowell Men's 70 4318 posts | Awg-dawg and lowprofile ... A couple of quick comments from the guy who's been a lead Field Director at BLD for both the Southwest and World Masters events since the facility opened ... • BLD is not the only location (by far) where the proper application of the "out of the box" call has been made ... It's just an easier call at BLD (and Golden Eagle in Sparks) because the sewn-in lines can't be wiped, either intentionally or through the normal play of a game ... • The batter's boxes at BLD are the official 4' x 3' dimension and are properly positioned relative to home plate ... I have measured most of them on multiple occasions to prove that to skeptical players ... |
| Oct. 20, 2019 B.J. 1107 posts | I think Dave meant to say the boxes are 4'X 7' |
| Oct. 20, 2019 k man Men's 65 326 posts | BJ, I think you meant to say that Dave meant to say 3x7 (7x3) |
| Oct. 20, 2019 B.J. 1107 posts | lol... well it took 3 tries but it's right now... good catch |
| Oct. 20, 2019 DaveDowell Men's 70 4318 posts | YEP! ... I meant to say 3' x 7' ... Thanks for the corrective therapy! |
| Oct. 20, 2019 lowprofile 65 posts | Dave makes since...line is not removable lol! never thought about that. Dave please close this thread, I don't want to seem like I'm trying to kill the pitcher, it was just an observation about the rule not always enforced, and maybe a solution. thanks for Tim and your input always appreciated sir. |
| Oct. 20, 2019 garyheifner 649 posts | I think the front line should remain to keep hitters from running too far up on the ball like girls softball players do. As to the batters box, it should be eliminated. Most lines are gone after 2 or 3 innings anyway. The batter has to defend the mat. Who cares where he stands. He can stand only so far from it and still defend it. In Vegas the ump warned us with ejection if the batter erased even an inch of it. By the 3rd I asked about the lines that were gone. He basically indicated stand anywhere. |
| Oct. 20, 2019 Awg-dawg 5 posts | The rule may have been enforced at other parks , but it’s the first I’ve seen it enforced in 10 years of my playing seniors. . |
