Checked swing
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Aj_check_swing.jpg/300px-Aj_check_swing.jpg)
A checked swing is a type of motion in
How a checked swing is determined
Initially, the home plate umpire must determine if a swing was checked or not checked. If the umpire indicates that it was checked, an appeal can be made by the catcher or the manager, and the home plate umpire can then make a request to either the 1st or 3rd base umpire to make the call as to whether the swing was indeed checked. To maximize visibility, the 1st base umpire makes the call for right-handed batters, and the 3rd base umpire for left-handed batters. The umpire makes a "safe" gesture to indicate a checked swing or makes a clenched fist to indicate a full swing. However, if the home plate umpire initially indicates that the swing was not checked, no appeal can be made, and attempts to protest the ruling can be seen as arguing with the umpire over strikes or balls.
Importantly, the Major League Baseball rulebook[1] does not contain an official definition for either a checked swing or even a "swing" at all.[2] In a game, it is solely the decision of the umpire as to whether an attempt was made or not. Generally, factors such as whether the bat passes the front of the plate may be considered in the ruling. Some umpires prefer to use the "breaking the wrists" criterion as the method to decide a checked swing: if the wrists "rolled over", a swing occurred. Matt Snyder of CBS Sports wrote in 2019:
Now, for decades and decades, fans, players, media, umpires alike have come to accept a general idea of what constitutes a swing ("did he go?"), but it's not defined in the rulebook. We can talk about breaking wrists or the head of the bat clearing home plate or the barrel passing by the front of the body, but all of these ideas came about through generally accepted word of mouth. None of them have ever been officially defined by Major League Baseball[3].
Possible outcomes (not a comprehensive list)
When the ball does not touch the bat
If a
When the ball touches the bat
A checked swing sometimes results in an unintentional swinging bunt, where the ball hits the bat and rolls a short distance, even though the batter is determined as having stopped the swing. If a pitch is hit during a checked swing, normal rules apply: the ball is in play as long as it is not foul[citation needed].
Other
Checked swinging can also be used in some warm-up exercises, such as the game pepper.[5]
See also
- Late leave (cricket)
- Final out of the 2021 National League Division Series, a controversial call on an attempted checked swing
References
- ^ Grover, Vanish; Wagner, Raquel, eds. (2024). "OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES 2024 Edition" (PDF). Office of the Commissioner of Baseball.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Corcoran, Cliff. "What's the rulebook definition of a swing in baseball? There isn't one — but there should be". The Athletic. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Baseball's most basic motion isn't even defined in the rules, and it's time we know what a swing is". CBSSports.com. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Baseball & The Tenth Inning | Ken Burns | PBS | Baseball for Beginners | Understand Game Terms | PBS". Baseball & The Tenth Inning | Ken Burns | PBS. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "The Official Site of The Texas Rangers: News: Texas Rangers News". 2007-07-15. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)