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White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

Ceetar Apr 13 2012 02:08 PM

[url]http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120413&content_id=28564022&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Miguel Cabrera stepped to the plate with two outs in the top of the first inning and immediately pointed to the batter's box, arguing that it didn't extend far enough back. As it turned out, he was right. Crew chief Gary Cederstrom confirmed that the box was drawn too far forward and stopped the game for the grounds crew to rechalk the lines. Crazy. And kudos to Miguel Cabrera for immediately recognizing it.

Frayed Knot Apr 13 2012 02:21 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

The Braves got caught some years back for (intentionally as it turns out) drawing the catcher's box too wide. Much better to set up and get calls on those 6-8 inches outside Glavoxx cutter/change-ups. This one sounds like it might just be a screw-up but who knows.

Gwreck Apr 13 2012 02:49 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

The White Sox? The Bossard family of groundskeepers? I highly doubt this was accidental.

Nymr83 Apr 13 2012 03:54 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

Frayed Knot wrote: The Braves got caught some years back for (intentionally as it turns out) drawing the catcher's box too wide. Much better to set up and get calls on those 6-8 inches outside Glavoxx cutter/change-ups. This one sounds like it might just be a screw-up but who knows. Javy Lopez used to setup entirely outside the box even when it was there. Glavine was the reason for Queztec

holychicken Apr 13 2012 10:14 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

The best part is that he gets the game delayed for 10 minutes while they fix it for him. . .and then he proceeded to fly out on the first pitch.

The Second Spitter Apr 13 2012 10:27 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

Ceetar wrote: Crazy. And kudos to Miguel Cabrera for staying sober enough to notice. Fixed.

Frayed Knot Apr 14 2012 11:06 AM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

Gwreck wrote: The White Sox? The Bossard family of groundskeepers? I highly doubt this was accidental. I'm unfamiliar with the Bossards but I'm guessing there's a back-story in there somewhere? Javy Lopez used to setup entirely outside the box even when it was there. Well that was pretty much the point in making it larger. Since it's not legal to set up outside the box - even on intentional walks - if and when umps took to enforcing the rule the Braves simply made the box bigger. In the case of the ChiSox/Detroit game a less deep batter's box wouldn't normally seem to be an advantage for either side but maybe the Sox knew something about one or more of the Tiger hitters.

Gwreck Apr 14 2012 01:06 PM Re: White Sox Draw The Batters Box Wrong

The Bossards have been known for creative groundkeeping in the past to their home teams' advantage. Roger Bossard, the head White Sox groundskeeper, is the grandson of Emil Bossard, the former Cleveland Indians groundskeeper, who apparently Joe Dimaggio once blamed for ending his hitting streak (for watering down the infield so much to slow down the ground balls he hit). I remember reading about the Bossards in the Cheater's Guide to Baseball by Derek Zumsteg. I also found this link amusing: [url]http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/readers/baseball/cheaters.html (scroll down to No. 4).