AboutTom Schott Expertise I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. Try to stick to on-the-field stuff. I`m not interested in personal off-the-field stuff like spouses, girl friends, drug habits, salaries, mascots, etc. If you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."
Experience I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.
Publications Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.
Question My son was playing baseball last night and he was at bat when the picther threw a wild ball. my son turned his back to the picther when he saw it was going to hit him. The ball struck the bat because it was behind him and struck the shoulder blade of his back. He was in he batters box but the ump called it a foul ball and not a ball and did not allow a walk I had the entire thing on HD video and showed the ump after the game but he said that because the ball hit the bat before it hit him even if he did not swing it is a foul the is this a bad call?
Answer Zach,
No. It's not. The umpire made the right call here. Baseball's rules are unforgiving in almost all cases. This is no exception. Once a pitched ball makes contact with the bat, it is a live ball. This situation you describe would be just like a guy fouling a pitch off his ankle or foot. Furthermore, in your son's situation, he was lucky the ball did not roll into fair territory, because then it would be played like any other ball hit onto the field of play--even if the batter's back is turned.
