Bunting Rules: Umpire Discretion on Strike Calls

Question

In a response from a question on 7/6/07 on bunting, you stated "If the bat is in front of the plate when the ball passes it it is a strike. Even if the ball rolled in the dirt".
My question is, what if the bat is over the plate showing bunt, and not in front of the plate when the pitch comes in and is clearly a ball?
I would think it is not a strike since there was no offer at the ball.


Answer
Mike,

That call is up to the indiviudal umpire. Calling stikes for offering are just as different from one another as an umpire's strike zone. However, I would probably call it a strike. I just wrote what the offical rules are.

I hope this helps you.

Jesse