Hands part of the bat...

[VOLnWTN]

I have heard this so many different ways. What is the rule about the hand being part of the bat?

[HTV]

I have heard this so many different ways. What is the rule about the hand being part of the bat?

 

The best explanation I have heard is that any part of the hand that is in direct contact with the bat is part of the bat. Any part of the hand which is not in direct contact with the bat is not part of the bat.

 

So, theoretically the fingers, thumbs and back of the hands to the first knuckles would be part of the bat, but not the wrists.

 

Of course, without any replay to rely on it is completely subjective to the interpretation of the umpire.

[Willie]

Hands are not part of the bat. Has anyone ever purchased a bat with hands on it? A lot times when situations like this come up in a game the umpires make the call both ways depending on the crew.

[glock22]

Ask yourself this, when you pick up a bat, are there hands attached to it?

 

If not, hands are not part of the bat.

[glock22]

The best explanation I have heard is that any part of the hand that is in direct contact with the bat is part of the bat. Any part of the hand which is not in direct contact with the bat is not part of the bat.

 

So, theoretically the fingers, thumbs and back of the hands to the first knuckles would be part of the bat, but not the wrists.

 

Of course, without any replay to rely on it is completely subjective to the interpretation of the umpire.

This is where many of the myths come from.

[HTV]

This is where many of the myths come from.

 

I understand, which is why I included the last point.

[ksgovols]

The tough part of the call is the sound. You don't typically see the ball hit the hand on the bat and when it hits, it may hit the bat too and it sounds like it hit the bat.

[StealthBuster]

Hands are not part of the bat. Has anyone ever purchased a bat with hands on it? A lot times when situations like this come up in a game the umpires make the call both ways depending on the crew.

Never purchased a bat with hands on it...But I have purchased many bats with someones hands in my wallet.

[GRGrizz]

Hands are part of the bat..MYTH. It's really pretty straigt forward, if a pitched 'ball' hits the batter on the hand in the umpires judgement, dead ball batter to first. If batter is swinging at a pitch and the ball hits his hand and the ball goes in to fair territory, ball is live and in play. If it goes in foul territory, strike. As another poster suggested, it's sometimes hard to distinguish if the ball hit the bat or the hand and it comes down to umpire judgement, however, if the batter is swinging at the pitch it will be strike or live ball. I had a partner once who called a stike on a batter when the ball obviously hit the batters hand and the offended team's coach went crazy saying he should be on first, partner said in his judgement, the batter moved his hands in the strike zone. Good call.

[imontheline]

Hands are part of the bat..MYTH. It's really pretty straigt forward, if a pitched 'ball' hits the batter on the hand in the umpires judgement, dead ball batter to first. If batter is swinging at a pitch and the ball hits his hand and the ball goes in to fair territory, ball is live and in play. If it goes in foul territory, strike. As another poster suggested, it's sometimes hard to distinguish if the ball hit the bat or the hand and it comes down to umpire judgement, however, if the batter is swinging at the pitch it will be strike or live ball. I had a partner once who called a stike on a batter when the ball obviously hit the batters hand and the offended team's coach went crazy saying he should be on first, partner said in his judgement, the batter moved his hands in the strike zone. Good call.

 

I believe it's a "dead ball strike" on any ball that hits the batters hands first on a swing, regardless of fair or foul.

 

Federation rule reference 7.2.1 b

A strike is charged to the batter when a pitch is struck at and missed (even if the pitch touches the batter).

Edited March 29, 2012 by imontheline

[ut18vols]

I believe it's a "dead ball strike" on any ball that hits the batters hands first on a swing, regardless of fair or foul.

 

Federation rule reference 7.2.1 b

A strike is charged to the batter when a pitch is struck at and missed (even if the pitch touches the batter).

 

This is correct.

 

If its a full swinging strike and hits hand, dead ball strike...if it a check swing and hit hands, umpire decides if he swung enough that merits a strike or its a hit batter and he is awarded first. This happened in the majors week and half ago to Red Sox D. Pedroia on a check swing, he was hit with ball and umpire deamed no check swing and he was awarded first.

[GRGrizz]

I believe it's a "dead ball strike" on any ball that hits the batters hands first on a swing, regardless of fair or foul.

 

Federation rule reference 7.2.1 b

A strike is charged to the batter when a pitch is struck at and missed (even if the pitch touches the batter).

 

Yes sir, officially you are correct and I stand corrected, but I have never seen an umpire call anyone out on a swing where the ball hit the batters hand and basically ended up looking like a bunt. That would be a very tough judgement call as to whether it hit the handle or the meat, lol.