New rule proposal!

[lynx]

that would be a stupid rule change.....the hitter is doing their job to foul off pitches to get their pitch plus making the pitcher work

 

[softballphreak]

They already use this technology. PlayStations.

 

[dogpatch]

This is a very shortsighted idea if intended for softball outside of travelball world. Real softball is untimed, and a valuable strategy for hitters facing elite pitchers is to foul off as many pitches as possible with the goal of running up pitch counts. Elite pitchers can be beaten by teams who have hitters who can systematically make them throw lots of pitches. Pitchers often loose their edge in late innings if high pitch counts can be forced.

 

[lostcreek1]

I think slapping should be played under the same rules as a bunting.

 

[RADcatcher]

I think slapping should be played under the same rules as a bunting.

Ohhhhh interesting consideration!

 

[Comp]

I think slapping should be played under the same rules as a bunting.

So should the same rule apply to a right handed batter that check swings with 2 strikes and fouls the ball off? The bunting rules do apply to slappers, if they do in fact bunt with 2 strikes. And yes, a drag bunt is a bunt.

 

[Dabears17]

History of two-strike bunt rule a reminder pace of play issues are over a century old

Baseball has tried to fix the pace of games for a long time and foul ball rules have evolved accordingly

www.cbssports.com

 

[dogpatch]

I think slapping should be played under the same rules as a bunting.

Bad idea!!! The bunt absorbes the energy of the pitch. It is identified by manuplitating the bat to absorb energy, and usually involves separating the hands. Slappers swing the bat, adding energy to the ball just as standard hitting does. The small field is what makes slapping possible and is a fundamental difference that separates softball from baseball. Treating the slap as a bunt would be a step toward making softball nothing more than baseball played with a large ball on a small field.