The Conventional Wisdom: To hear the TV folks (and most MLB players/coaches for that matter) tell it, this call comes down to a jamboree of cliches like "did he go around" and things about the batter "breaking his wrists" or "breaking the plane of the plate" with the bat. Better yet, since judging whether the batter's bat "went around" is difficult from the home plate Ump's position, we get the drama of the catcher "appealing" to the 1st or 3rd base Ump. So we get that satisfying picture in our minds of the catcher heroically appealing with his glove pointed down the basepath...and then a spirited safe or strike call if the bat swung across the plate. And then we get 2 or 3 replays from the dugout camera to see if the call was correct. Sound about right?
The Latest Example: Well, that's how I always thought it went down, but in reality...that's not the case. Indeed, these rules of thumb we've all heard can often predict the call the 1st or 3rd base Ump will make -- but not all the time.
If you were watching the Cubs v. Mets game on ESPN tonight, Mark DeRosa (2B, Cubs) got hot and bothered about a call like this. He checked his swing as the pitch crossed the plate, but was punched out by home plate Ump Angel Hernandez (55). DeRosa said some choice phrases on his way back to the bench, asking for a second opinion from down the 1st Base line. Hernandez waived him off and reiterated his call.
The TV booth guys all wondered:
1. DeRosa didn't appear to go around, so why was it a strike?
2. Why didn't Hernandez allow the appeal on such a close call?
The Explanation: The answer is that Hernandez had no reason to get the second opinion for the call he made. The test as to "swing or no swing" is whether the batter made any attempt to strike the ball. So listen up, batters...holding up after the fact won't necessarily save you.
Bat is back as the pitch reaches the plate. (click to enlarge)
Hips open, bat checked as ball is in the glove.
1. As you can see from the pics, DeRosa checks his swing pretty much WHILE the ball is crossing the plate. From this angle, it appears DeRosa was pretty well fooled on the pitch and made the decision to hold up when he realized he wouldn't be able to make contact...and he indeed held up the swing and perhaps didn't go around.
Can't get in his head, but it seems the Home Plate Umpire saw a well-timed attempt at the pitch (see how DeRosa is still moving his bat forward as the ball crosses the plate). It doesn't matter whether his bat "goes around" in this case. It really doesn't matter if he's within a nautical mile of hitting the ball. All that matters is if the Umpire believes the batter made an attempt to strike the ball. The rule is made this way to protect a pitcher who makes a good pitch against a batter who is only checking his swing because he misjudged the pitch so badly.
2. Why no appeal? Because it is the Home Plate Ump's call to make. Despite the oft-mentioned catcher "appealing" a call up the line, only the Plate Ump can pass the call to the 1st Base or 3rd Base Ump. The appeal is available TO HIM because the Home Plate Ump is tasked with the all-important ball-or-strike judgement call. He often doesn't have the bandwidth to be fooling around with judging an attempted swing and needs help from time to time. (Don't forget, if the pitch is a strike, the swing or no swing doesn't matter...which is, of course, the reason the Home Plate Ump focuses on that call.)
In this case, the pitch was likely an EASY ball call, allowing Hernandez to get a look at the swing. And with a good look, it's pretty easy to tell DeRosa made an attempt to strike the ball...a ball he realized he wouldn't be able to get around on a split second too late.
