We are having a discussion on when there is a pitch which misses the plate, but still has the inner or outer half of the ball over the inside or the outside of the plate, but again when the ball lands, there was no contact with the plate or the mat, should this pitch be called a strike?
It seems to me that if the ball actually hits the inside or the outside edge of the plate that it would deflect sideways. However, I have had, on many occasions, such a pitch called a strike on me. Even explaining the physics of the event to the ump makes no difference. Perhaps someone can explain the "error of my ways"!
DoubleL.. read the OP again it states the ball NEVER struck the mat so therefore it's a ball.. the calling of a ball or strike is umpire judgement on whether the ball just nips the edge of the strike mat ...
lol.. on explaining the physics of the event to an ump...
as far as the error of your ways... understand that an umpire can make an error on a call just like your teammates boot a ground ball of drop a fly ball... do you go up to them and explain the psychics of catching a round object with a concave glove
B.J. I should have said "I have had, on many occasions, a pitch that DID NOT hit the inside or outside edge of the plate" called a strike. In such an occurrence, I do not expect the ball to deflect. If the ball does deflect, i.e., "nips the edge", I expect a strike call.
As to your suggestion on explaining the physics of catching a ball with a concave glove, I need to explain that one to myself! LOL!
Since B.J. responded, I imagine Wayne37 will post at some point. B.J's. reply should be correct. Where in soccer, the ball can be in contact with the ground outside the touch line, but still be in play because one side of the ball is over the touch line even if not touching it. Well, sometimes it might if the grass is high. Most senior plates are somewhat thick, so it's hard to have the same situation as the above soccer one with a smaller softball.
DD..(instigator) I can't wait..lol
Randall,
Used to they used the plate and a mud flap as part the of the strike mat. Their width was 17". The new strike mats even with mud flap going up the side of the plate are 19". Technically, you are getting the corners.
6.1 • STRIKE ZONE MAT
A strike zone mat will be used. Legal pitches striking any portion of the mat will
be strikes.
It appears it must strike the mat
Of course it has to strike the mat because if it just had to overlap the mat without touching it there would be endless arguments about where to draw the line so to speak (but there are still many arguments when the ball lands at the front edge of the mat/plate)
To answer Randall’s original question:
No, that is not to be called a strike.
