How can a home plate umpire call a check swing?
Question:isn't he supposed to be watching the pitch to call it a strike or ball?
Answers:
I agree that the plate umpire should not make the call, but it is he has the authority to do so.
They ask either the first base or third base umpire to help out with the call.
Has there ever been another 7 time MVP in MLB other than Barry Bonds ?
If he saw the bat break the plane of homeplate and first base it is a strike. the Catcher can appeal to the 1st or 3rd base umpire.Who are going to be the MVP's this year.?
Usually the home plate umpire will ask the 3rd and 1st base umpires.What is the best baseball team?
yesbut if the hitter rolls his wrist it is definitely a strike
a check swing is different and a different angle is needed usually he will ask the base umpires
We are good at what we do!
The plate umpire has to watch for several things such as;
Is the catcher in his box,
Is the batter in his box,
Was there an illegal pitch, or balk
Was there catchers obstruction on a swing,
Was there an actual swing,
Was there a bunt attempt,
Was the batter hit by a pitch, if so, was he in the strike zone,
Did the batter contact the ball with a foot outside the batters box, and so on----------
You have to learn to see quite a few things. There is a lot that happens on each pitch. What determines a "swing" simply put, is did the batter make an attempt to hit the ball? If in the umpires judgement he did, it is then a strike. Many "clues" will help determine this such as did the wrists roll, or break? on a buntt attempt, was there a forward motion of the bat? Did the barrel cross in front of the plate? (this can be seen, but is not always seen by the plate guy), and honestly sometimes the batter will give the best clue after attempting a check by saying "oh @#&$" or such! That really clinches it!
If the umpire calls the attempt a strike, it stays a strike. If called a no swing, or ball, the defense may request the plate guy "go for help", or "check it". While there is no written rule requiring an "automatic check", as a general rule a good plate umpire will always "check", if for no other reason, as a courtesy to the catcher.
In the majors, with base umpires always at the corners of the diamond, they will have a good view of the attempt. In a two, or even three man system, there may not be a base umpire in a position to better see a check swing attempt. It is still a good policy to ask "did he go?" if requested.
Bottom line is, there is a lot that goes on back there. You have to be sharp to properly do the job!
What is Joe Garagiola doing these days?
they usually refer the call the to the first or third base ump depending on which way the batter swings. home plate ump rarely makes this call on his own.The home plate umpir can make the judgement if a bat breaks the plane for strike.
Are you going to the minnesota twins baseball game tonight!?
The Major League Baseball rulebook doesn't contain an official definition for a check swing. It is the decision of the umpire presiding. Generally, factors such as whether the bat passes the front of the plate or the batter pulls his wrists back are considered in the ruling."He broke his wrists!"
"The bat went past the front of the plate!"
Many people believe those two statements are written in the rules or are written as official interpretations of a strike. However, on the contrary, THEY ARE NOT.
A strike by definition is "a pitch that is struck at by the batter and is missed." It is purely a judgment made by the umpire as to whether the batter "struck at" the pitch. Breaking the wrists or the bat moving beyond the front of the plate or the batter's body, are factors that the umpire may use to make the judgment. Factors is all they are. They are not definitions.
It is not automatically a strike when a batter holds the bat over the plate preparing to bunt and does not pull it back when the pitch goes by. The same judgment applies. Did the batter "strike at" the pitch?
It is not automatically a strike when a batter is ducking an inside pitch and he spins around and the bat crosses the plate. The umpire must judge if he was avoiding the pitch or striking at it.
The home plate umpire has many other things to watch for than just "the pitch to call it a strike or ball." But just as br549 stated, there is a lot that goes on back there.
With that being said, a "check swing" called a strike by the home plate umpire was judged to be "a pitch that was struck at by the batter and was missed." It is basically the same call as a full swing and a miss.
Though the batter may look as if they had stopped their swing, which is usually referred to as a check swing (although the MLB rulebook doesn't contain an official definition for a check swing), and the home plate felt the batter struck at the pitch and missed it, then the home plate umpire will call a strike.
If the home plate umpire doesn't feel like the batter struck ot the pitch and missed it (on a check swing), and the catcher/pitcher/fielding team felt as if the batter did, the catcher is allowed to make an appeal to the 1st or 3rd base umpire to gather their opinion of the apparent check swing. If the 1st or 3rd base umpire judged that the the pitch was struck at by the batter and was missed, then they are entitled to express their ruling and call a strike.
When I went to umpire school to get into the minors here is the way we were taught.
1. Watch the pitch -- if it is in the strike zone who cares if he swung. The batter will ask "on swing or pitch?"
2. The bat will come near the ball -- Makes it easy to see both.
3. Make your call -- either "yes, he did" or "Ball, no he didn't" Only if you call ball may the defensive manager or cathcer ask for an appeal. In HS rules it is a courtesy but under pro rules the plate umpire has to appeal the swing.
PS -- with my experience and years in the game it is actually easier to call the check swing from the infield b/c you are not worried about anything other than "was that a swing?" and not about wrists or barrels.
More Questions & Answers...