Another "What Would You Do?" Thread

[moblue]

Cal Ripken 9 yr. olds. OBR

Batter takes a pitch that is way inside and a little up. He starts the typical drop-to-the-ground motion because the ball is maybe chest high. As he starts to drop, his batting helmet comes loose, causing it to make your typical ball-on-helmet sound (but the ball isn't quite there yet). Then the ball arives. Batter's bat is moving and while the helmet is making noise, makes a very light "ting" that could have been the ball hitting the bat, the batter making it hit something else, or possibly somehow his hands caused the sound (it was very light, not the typical ball-on-bat volume).

I thought there was no contact at all as I watched the ball pass over the batter's head and past the bat. The ball hit the dirt and was stopped by the catcher. Catcher claimed it hit the batter's bat, and the batter claimed it hit his helmet. Again I had nothing either way, so my partner and I conferenced. We decided to rule it a ball since I did not have a definite ball contact anywhere. I realize most of this is a HTBT situation, but what would you do under these circumstances? I would like to not have this happen again.

[JamesC]

I think I'm missing something here...The pitch was up and in but the catcher blocked the dirt ball? how is this possible? And what was the batter doing? Did he hit the deck or just duck or jump back or what?

[BrianC14]

Cal Ripken 9 yr. olds. OBR

Batter takes a pitch that is way inside and a little up. He starts the typical drop-to-the-ground motion because the ball is maybe chest high. As he starts to drop, his batting helmet comes loose, causing it to make your typical ball-on-helmet sound (but the ball isn't quite there yet). Then the ball arives. Batter's bat is moving and while the helmet is making noise, makes a very light "ting" that could have been the ball hitting the bat, the batter making it hit something else, or possibly somehow his hands caused the sound (it was very light, not the typical ball-on-bat volume).

I thought there was no contact at all as I watched the ball pass over the batter's head and past the bat. The ball hit the dirt and was stopped by the catcher. Catcher claimed it hit the batter's bat, and the batter claimed it hit his helmet. Again I had nothing either way, so my partner and I conferenced. We decided to rule it a ball since I did not have a definite ball contact anywhere. I realize most of this is a HTBT situation, but what would you do under these circumstances? I would like to not have this happen again.

I'm dizzy after reading this...

But since you asked.... I would certainly NOT hold a "conference" with the base umpire on this.

If you don't want it to happen again, you HAVE to track the ball all the way in, and watch it AND hear it make contact with the bat.

Now, I'm going to finish my 2nd cuppa joe and wonder how a helmet can make such a sound while it's falling off. :shrug:

[Mr Umpire]

I can imagine all of this since we are talking about 9 y/o. I can imagine a ball chest high hitting the dirt. Again, talking about 9 y/o pitching and catching. No arm strength and the catcher setting up deep enough.

Now, about the sounds being made, that is hard to imagine. You either have something or you have nothing. I don't think you can prevent it from happening again. Again, talking about 9 y/o.

Basically, it is your call. The BU has nothing to do with this call. You weren't shielded and even if you were, it was so light that no one else is going to be able to tell anything. Someone is going to like you and someone is going to not like you. But, you have to make a call and stick with it. Don't let them at least even appear to talk you into a call and don't appear to look like you have a lack of confidence. Just simply say you have nothing and stick with it.

This is a HTBT to understand how the different sounds would be interpreted and the timing of them. To me, the description sounds like the ball hit something but I wasn't there so I have no idea.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I realize most of this is a HTBT situation, but what would you do under these circumstances?

Punt.:shrug:

[moblue]

This is a HTBT to understand how the different sounds would be interpreted and the timing of them. To me, the description sounds like the ball hit something but I wasn't there so I have no idea.

I wasn't about to admit it at the time, but I don't doubt something got hit in there somewhere. But, this kid had so much movement as he tried to drop that it was hard to tell if anything was hit or not. I saw the ball pass both his head and the bat, but there was no major change of direction that made it easy to say what was hit. I didn't feel like I could trust the normal sounds you listen for because there was noise before the ball even got there. Sometimes I wish I had a camera inside my mask to record all of this crazy stuff.

[Tyennie]

Where was the bat in relation to the kids helmet? could it be as the batter is dropping, and his helmet is coming off, the helmet actually hit the bat, and then the ball arrives and just grazes the bat, only audible to you. You either have a ball or a foul ball. Sell it and move on. ty

[blindumpire99]

When I hear a 'ting' I think immediately of bat/ball contact...helmet to bat could/shoulda been seen and probably, IMO, make more of a dull clunk sound maybe ( ?) ...I'm trying to deduce this but I can't hink of anyway his hands could have made a 'ting' sound unless he mighta tinged his bat against a wedding ring maybe??:smachhead:

[therefump]

If you aren't totally positive it hit the bat or helmet then it's a ball. I get the feeling you flinched which I can kind of understand in that situation. Don't confer with BU in that situation. Just make a call. You're "gut feel" is usually 99% right.

[Don]

I thought there was no contact at all as I watched the ball pass over the batter's head and past the bat. Catcher claimed it hit the batter's bat, and the batter claimed it hit his helmet. Again I had nothing either way. I realize most of this is a HTBT situation, but what would you do under these circumstances?

You answered your own question. Call it a ball and deal with whomever comes out to question.