re: Plate Fiasco explanation

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I keep reading this. Where in the rule book does it say the batter stepping out of the box is an automatic strike? I am under the impression it’s only a strike if the pitch is an actual strike and a ball if it’s a ball.

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Here is the rule:

If the batter leaves the batter's box with both feet prior to the pitch and the pitcher delivers the pitch, play has not been delayed and there is no penalty for violation of Rule 6.02(c). The umpire will call the pitch as it is – a ball or strike [(per Rule 6.02(b)].

Since the ball never crossed the plate due to the catchers interference, the umpire cannot call a ball or strike.

True dat Dalton. What they should be all complaining about is the failure on the appeal because the guy stealing home never touched the plate.

EDIT: Found the rule why the appeal did not work.

Rule 6.b.8 (Appeals) If a violation occurs during a play that ends an inning, the appeal must be made before the defensive team leaves the field? When the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory and the catcher has left their position on their way to their bench, the team is considered to have left the field

I believe the appeal would have worked if the fielders had not left the field, because the runner never touched home. But this rule would explains why the appeal was not awarded.

Go watch the video. He never called him out. He took his mask off and watched both the catcher and the runner and never called an out or verbalized anything.

Meanwhile the announcer was yelling "out at home plate".

Go to the 15 minute mark to see it in this video.

LINK

EDIT: Looks like he actually looked at the umpire between first and second. I am guessing to see if the pitcher disengaged before the pitch.

You can’t see him. Not one camera stayed on him. The official umpire coordinator ( don’t know the official title) said the runner didn’t have to touch home because the home plate umpire called him out.

I was there not watching on tv till we couldn’t figure out what was going on.

You’re right. I was so focused on the catcher and runner I had not payed any attention to the home plate umpire, As soon as he came out of his crouch and removed his mask the home plate umpire was walking towards the field, I assume to talk with the other umpires. He just gave the tag a cursory glance as he slowed his walk and never made a safe or out call. He acted as if it was a dead ball situation and the play was already dead.

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They don’t want the catcher stepping on the plate or over it without the ball for safety reasons.

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good thing Neal didn't do either of those things until after he had the baseball, and even then he stayed on the back side of home until the runner was 5 feet from the plate.

the whole situation was a clown show and the way it was handled was piss poor.

I'd love to know what JJ said that got him tossed, though

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Umps right..

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Initially yes, but he fricked it up along with the entire crew later on with a non-reviewable play...

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Balk and interference

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Wrong again, there was no balk and the final out should have NEVER been on the runner stealing home, it should have been on the batter for clearly stepping out of the box as the pitch was being deliver which should have been called a strike for stepping out of the box during the pitch and that would have been strike three and the final out...

The umps were completely incompetent during this unnecessary fiasco they created...

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I can honestly say I have never seen a fanbase have a collective breakdown after winning like LSU has today.

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That’s not true so you are dishonest.

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You know who else agrees with my POV? The SEC.

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SEC always agreed with Bama, no matter how obtuse, so that’s irrelevant.

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And they make the rules. And they interpret the rules. And they enforce the rules.

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Spoken like a true gump.

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If it is within the rules, why don’t all catchers break towards the pitcher whenever they see a base runner attempting to steal?

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Maybe they would if the runner left before the windup like this joker did.

Maybe you should actually watch what happened before you comment.

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SEC always agreed with Bama, no matter how obtuse, so that’s irrelevant.

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You are right, Alabama was behind it. Of course.