Is there anything in any baseball/softball rulebook about what consitutes a swing??
Question:I am an intramural umpire for softball at my college and recently I called a batter out because he did a check swing bunt in a "pitch to your own team" softball league. Bunting or putting a half-swing is not allowed in this league since the pitcher cannot field it.
When called him out it caused a huge controversy because his team was screaming at me that he followed through and that it was a full, although soft, swing. They started telling me what the definition of a full swing in baseball is, which was news to me because I remember hearing that in the Major League baseball rulebook, there is nothing on what constitutes a swing and it rests solely on the umpire's discretion.
So is there any definition in ANY baseball or softball rulebook on what constitutes a full swing of the bat??
P.S. I know I made the right call, I am just curious as to whether their attempt at lecturing me was bogus as well.
Answers:
Yes. It's in my ASA softball rulebook. It says there are 4 areas which constitute whether or not the batter has swung...
1 - Did he roll his wrists?
2 - Did he swing through the ball and bring the bat back?
3 - Was the bat out in front of his body?
4 - Did he make an attempt to hit the pitch?
You're right, whether a batter took a swing or not, in baseball, is up to the discretion of the umpire, and an umpire's judgement can't be questioned without the questioner being ejected from the game.
The rules in softball may be different, though.
Their attempt to lecture you wasn't bogus, it was simply in the heat of the moment. That's why umpires have the discretion to toss someone - to keep the game moving in an orderly fashion.
The link below is to the MLB rulebook.
Who is the best bench player on your favorite team?
In baseball, if the bat head crosses the front edge of homeplate while in a motion as to hit the ball, it is considered a full swing.Is Jeter going to win another golden glove?
Those ASA guidelines are pretty good...but in the MLB rulebook, there is no discussion of what constitutes a swing. I think that ASA guideline number 4 is a good rule of thumb --"Did he make an attempt to hit the pitch?" That's what swinging is, really. It's the umpire's judgment whether the batter was trying to hit the pitch or not.Your situation is different, however. You're umpiring a softball league that has made a rule about a specific type of swing that is not allowed. If there's nothing in the rulebook about exactly what constitutes a "swing," there's certainly not going to be anything about "half-swings." This seems like something that is completely up to your interpretation of what you see on the field, since there is a spectrum of possible swings, from "swinging for the fences" to "bunt." Most swings are somewhere in between, and you have to decide where the line for "half-swing" is.
Anyway, if you "know" you made the right call, then it was the right call. It's up to your judgment whether it was a swing or not--you're not going to find a rulebook that legislates every potential type of swing.
Who will be a better player in the long run, Jose Reyes or David Wright?
If his teammate was pitching to him, he should be out or it should be ruled as a foul ball, because what pitcher is going to field that?A full swing is when the bat breaks the plane of the shoulder facing the pitcher. Meaning, if I'm batting and I try to check my swing, the bat cannot go ahead of the shoulder that is facing the pitcher -- otherwise that is a swing.
In baseball, if the batter checks his swing but makes contact with the ball, the ball usually travels like it's a bunt. As long as it's fair, it's fair game to get the batter or any other runner out. It's treated as a fair ball. That said, again, if the pitcher is on the batter's team, it should be a foul or an out if he makes contact with the ball and it's not going to get past the pitcher.
The other thing to do is to leave it fair and make the catcher throw the batter out.
After reading the responses above I can only add the following:
If, in the umpires decision the batter commit ed to engage the ball and the bat reached a point where the batter placed the bat in an engaging position to hit the the ball that pitch is considered a strike. Rest easy and do not listen to the armchair wannabes!
Did anyone other than Frank Robinson win a MVP in both leagues?
noA History Question About Baseball?
i play softball and it seems as though the rule is that if your bat is over the plate its a swing, but you can pull back for a bunt as long as you pull back before the ball crossesDo you believe Shillings "Red Sock" was a hoax?
They are trying to pull a fast one on you.As a former IM umpire from my days at Marshall U., I can appreciate you getting this play right.
There is no guideline structure for a swing/no swing call. Just judge whether the batter attempted to strike the ball.
PS recommend to the IM director a rules change for the ball to travel a certain distance or it is a foul ball in addition to the slow swing.-- Just a thought.
More Questions & Answers...