Brandon Belt, who holds the record for most foul balls since 1988, apologized for his 13 minute, 21 pitch at bat with 16 foul balls, stating: "When I'm in the field I hate it when a batter keeps fouling pitches off," Belt said after the game. "I'm like 'Dude, just put it in play. It's not that hard. Let's go.' So I basically had to apologize to everybody after that." .....

https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-mlb-at-bats-on-record-c273475240

Quote:

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Here are the longest MLB at-bats on record
Belt's 21-pitch battle tops all regular-season ABs since 1988
April 21st, 2024
Chad Thornburg and Matt Kelly @mattkellyMLB

...Giants first baseman Brandon Belt made history on April 22, 2018 -- three years ago Friday -- when he worked a 21-pitch at-bat during San Francisco's 4-2 win over the Angels in Anaheim. Belt hit 16 foul balls in the first-inning battle against Jaime Barria that ended in a fly ball to right field.

Belt's 21-pitch at-bat is the longest on record since 1988, as far back as the data is available, but his regular-season feat was surpassed in a Spring Training game by the Mets' Luis Guillorme. The utility player worked a 22-pitch walk on March 14, 2021, against Cardinals right-hander Jordan Hicks, who was seeing his first game action in over a year.

Below is a look at Belt and the other at-bats near the top of the list:

1. Brandon Belt, 1B, SF vs. Jaime Barria, RHP, LAA
April 22, 2018: 21 pitches, flyout

Belt wound up apologizing after his headline-grabbing showdown with Barria, because after years of standing at first base while opposing hitters fouled off pitch after pitch, he treated the Angels' fielders (and everyone in attendance) to a 13-minute affair.

"When I'm in the field I hate it when a batter keeps fouling pitches off," Belt said after the game. "I'm like 'Dude, just put it in play. It's not that hard. Let's go.' So I basically had to apologize to everybody after that." .....

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https://imgur.com/a/u2CXFM9

Tell me you don't understand baseball without telling me you don't understand baseball.

Nonsense. Pure nonsense.

WolfCall said:

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Should there be a limit in College Baseball of only one foul ball after the second strike, with the hitter being called out on the 2nd foul ball after the 2nd strike?

This would limit the maximum number of pitches for a hitter to seven. And, avoid the interminable foul balls of a hitter adept at defending the plate.

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This is where you reply and say someone either double dog dared you or paid you a ridiculous amount of money to vomit up this ridiculous post.

drthoop said:

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I also think that if a fan catches a foul ball the batter should be out.

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and if she's female, side is retired. and if she's under 8, you lose the game. that would be epic!

Tobias Funke said:

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You seem to be under the impression that batters can just foul off any pitch they want, no problem, and you seem to think that batters are taking advantage of these super-simple "foul swings" to wear out pitchers.

Methinks OP has probably never swung a bat at a ball.

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Ahahaha! My first thought too! The guy has played some EA sports NCAA College Baseball.

greg.w.h said:

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If OP doesn't like baseball go watch test match cricket. Those matches over multiple days will wear you out…

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It's obvious he never played the game.

what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this board is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

LOYAL AG said:

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YokelRidesAgain said:

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WolfCall said:

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Should there be a limit in College Baseball of only one foul ball after the second strike, with the hitter being called out on the 2nd foul ball after the 2nd strike?

This would limit the maximum number of pitches for a hitter to seven. And, avoid the interminable foul balls of a hitter adept at defending the plate.

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Unlike the rest of you comedians, I support the OP's visionary proposal.

To offset the new disadvantage to hitters, college baseball should also allow one batter per inning who reaches base to maintain possession of their bat, which can be used as a club against fielders. That would be cool.

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I like this but let's take it one step further. If you go an inning without anyone reaching base then you get to carryover the missed club wielding runner to a later inning. Imagine having the bases loaded and everyone has a bat!

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These are better ideas than OP.

Am I the only one that had to look up "interminable"?

There used to be a rule that 4 foul balls was an out.

Ragoo said:

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fouling a bunt is easier than fouling a full swing. I assume the bunt foul strike 3 rule to to prevent a guy just sitting there in a bunt stance intentionally fouling ball after ball.

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You actually could bunt an unlimited number of balls foul up until the 1890s. The rule change was not about pitcher usage (no one cared how many pitches or innings a pitcher threw in those days), but rather the ability of some players to repeatedly try for a "perfect" bunt.

Wee Willie Keeler, who held the record for longest hit streak of all time until DiMaggio's 1941 performance (and is still 2nd of all time), was a master of bunt singles under this rule. Keeler was basically impossible to strike out (over 63 at bats per strikeout).

Maybe we should use a square "ball" too. Yeah that sounds cool and not at all dumb and for no reason.

WolfCall said:

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Should there be a limit in College Baseball of only one foul ball after the second strike, with the hitter being called out on the 2nd foul ball after the 2nd strike?

This would limit the maximum number of pitches for a hitter to seven. And, avoid the interminable foul balls of a hitter adept at defending the plate.

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No. There's reasons for pitch count and strategies. You're going to penalize pitcher depth and reward a lack of depth.

WolfCall said:

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BeatHellOutOfTU said:

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Not just no, but hell no! This is a great part of baseball, battling at the plate.

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Actually a terrible part of the game. The new rule would:

• force the hitters to actually hit rather than fouling away until they get a pitch they like
• save some wear and tear on pitchers and lower their pitch count
• save on baseballs and time

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this is a major problem, batter should have to retrieve each foul ball himself

Sorry if this was already stated, but you do realize if this were the case then we wouldn't have seen the Kent grand slam last week.

WolfCall said:

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BeatHellOutOfTU said:

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Not just no, but hell no! This is a great part of baseball, battling at the plate.

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Actually a terrible part of the game. The new rule would:

• force the hitters to actually hit rather than fouling away until they get a pitch they like
• save some wear and tear on pitchers and lower their pitch count
• save on baseballs and time

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Well then perhaps the pitchers should just give them a nice pitch to hit right down the middle of the plate.