What would you have done?

[mesa4234]

I worked a game last night in a 18u showcase tournament. The players in this tournament are very skilled and definitely know what they are doing. I was the BU, and my partner (the PU) called an inside pitch that the pitcher thought was a strike, a ball. The pitcher gave him this look, and then the catcher came out to quickly talk to the pitcher. The next pitch came and the catcher stuck his glove up high and inside, and the pitch went high and outside, not touching the catcher at all and hit my partner directly in the chest.

I try not to think that a pitcher would hit an umpire on purpose, but the circumstances surrounding him getting hit were a little off. My first thoughts were that if I were him, I would have ejected them both, but what would you guys do?

[Stan W.]

I think the key here is the catcher.....If he didnt move his glove to catch/stab at the ball, then dump them both.........

If it was a cross up, he woud have made some effort to glove the ball..........

[Thunderheads]

First of all, and it's not your fault, but .........your description doesn't make sense to me, but that's not the point!

Bottom line is this ...if F1 was bitching about your partners strike zone BEFORE this issue, then definately , they're both gone ....instantly!

If this was the ONLY "complaint" from F1 prior to this, it's tougher to determine, BUT....the conference, then this ..........I'd probably toss just out of principle!

[JaxRolo]

I think the key here is the catcher.....If he didnt move his glove to catch/stab at the ball, then dump them both.........

If it was a cross up, he woud have made some effort to glove the ball..........

+1 I have to agree with Stan. No attempt by the catcher. Dump both.

[tommy]

I would do the same thing you did.think about what I would do if I were PU, and do nothing.

[JaxRolo]

I would do the same thing you did.think about what I would do if I were PU, and do nothing.

I might have to disagree. As BU if I saw that happened and was sure about it. I might have to jump in there. This is just a dangerous situation in my opinion and we can not let that happen!

[scobes7]

High and outside and the PU got hit???

[JaxRolo]

High and outside and the PU got hit???

I thought the same thing but weird things happen.

[Stan W.]

I would do the same thing you did.think about what I would do if I were PU, and do nothing.

Thats fine.......but I'm doing something...First off Im checking my partner.......18U can bring it

Then if I think that my partner out there just got clocked by 2 wiseacres........then Im definately doing something.....based on the evidence I saw, it might not be ejection, thats probably the HPU's call, but absent his call,......I'm calling them on it.....

it just might be a "come to jesus" meeting....it might be a time out to let my partner recover a bit....the OP did say 18U......it might be a talk with the defensive Manager about the attempt to injure that his two clowns just attempted....

but Im doing something.......

Edited August 5, 2010 by Stan W.
usual suspects- clarity and spelling

[rulebook]

I think the key here is the catcher.....If he didnt move his glove to catch/stab at the ball, then dump them both.........

If it was a cross up, he woud have made some effort to glove the ball..........

I agree that it doesn't sound like a cross up. If the catcher was expecting a high fastball on one side of the plate, it is not too hard to adjust to a high fastball on the other side. A cross up that would give the catcher real trouble is when he is expecting a breaking ball in the dirt and gets the high heat instead. But in any case, the catcher would at least try to stab at the ball if he really was crossed up.

[mesa4234]

The catcher didn't move his glove at all..and when I say high and outside, I mean it was thrown over the catcher's right shoulder and the catcher's glove was on his left side, inside on a right handed batter...

I was really surprised by the situation because I really did not expect something like that to happen. The kids in these tournaments are usually very polite etc. as there are scouts all over the place...

[yawetag]

The catcher didn't move his glove at all..and when I say high and outside, I mean it was thrown over the catcher's right shoulder and the catcher's glove was on his left side, inside on a right handed batter...

We understand what "high and outside" means. The confusion is that an umpire shouldn't be set up in a position where he's going to get hit on an outside, untouched pitch.

I'm thinking getting hit in the chest is worse. I'm imagining "high" as being at the letters or above. Getting hit square on the chest is a bit difficult at that height.

[JaxRolo]

We understand what "high and outside" means. The confusion is that an umpire shouldn't be set up in a position where he's going to get hit on an outside, untouched pitch.

I'm thinking getting hit in the chest is worse. I'm imagining "high" as being at the letters or above. Getting hit square on the chest is a bit difficult at that height.

Nice picture!!

It sounds more and more like the catcher must have been setup way inside and the Ump was possibly on the Outside.

Mesa never said where the Ump was setup.

[tommy]

Im guessing we have all seen the youtube video where the catcher drops down and lets the ball hit the umpire. if something like that were to happen then ofcourse I would step in and help out my partner. now if my partner gets hit and and thinks foul play is involved I will follow his lead but if he dosent think any foul play is involved and does nothing why should I do anything. we all understand the working dynamics between the PU and F2. who knows what was happening at that game at that time.

In retrospect I will say if im working the bases and my regular partner who is also my best friend is working the plate and I think a catcher lets one go on purpose im certainly going to be doing something about it. I should have thought about that before my earlier post.

[yawetag]

Nice picture!!

A quick Google image search for "baseball umpire slot position" yielded it.

It sounds more and more like the catcher must have been setup way inside and the Ump was possibly on the Outside.

I don't think so. He stated the catcher flashed his glove to high and inside. If the catcher's set up THAT far in, he wouldn't have room to flash it high and inside.

[JaxRolo]

Im guessing we have all seen the youtube video where the catcher drops down and lets the ball hit the umpire. if something like that were to happen then ofcourse I would step in and help out my partner. now if my partner gets hit and and thinks foul play is involved I will follow his lead but if he dosent think any foul play is involved and does nothing why should I do anything. we all understand the working dynamics between the PU and F2. who knows what was happening at that game at that time.

In retrospect I will say if im working the bases and my regular partner who is also my best friend is working the plate and I think a catcher lets one go on purpose im certainly going to be doing something about it. I should have thought about that before my earlier post.

Because we can't by any means let things like this happen!

[HokieUmp]

Im guessing we have all seen the youtube video where the catcher drops down and lets the ball hit the umpire. if something like that were to happen then ofcourse I would step in and help out my partner. now if my partner gets hit and and thinks foul play is involved I will follow his lead but if he dosent think any foul play is involved and does nothing why should I do anything. we all understand the working dynamics between the PU and F2. who knows what was happening at that game at that time.

In retrospect I will say if im working the bases and my regular partner who is also my best friend is working the plate and I think a catcher lets one go on purpose im certainly going to be doing something about it. I should have thought about that before my earlier post.

Tommy, I'm not sure I like the turn that took at the end there. Why would you treat it any differently because it's your best friend? If you think there was something there, then do it REGARDLESS of who your partner is. If it's enough to step in on behalf of your best friend, it's enough to step in for any other partner.

If you're the BU, you have an even better angle to see how much/little effort the catcher made.

The plate guy does know what's going on at the plate better than you, but if he gets his bell rung, it's going to take a few seconds, at least, for him to get situated.

Bottom line: if F1 and F2 are dumb enough to make their actions that blatant that you can tell from the A, B, or C positions, then run 'em. (Even if your partner plans to run them, too, run 'em early and run 'em often; they can't get ejected enough for pulling SH*# like that.) If you have your doubts, consult and/or let the PU take care of business.

But most of all, look out for ANY partner you have.

[JaxRolo]

But most of all, look out for ANY partner you have.

Amen!

[Ros@]

@Tommy --> If whatever happens on the field when you are Ump a game remember that your partner -who ever that might be- is the only one who would be able to help you out.

When I'm on the field, if I have to, I will knock myself or anyone else down to keep my partner and I ahead of any situation. I would not care that I might not have the strenght as to confront 9 or 18 players... they will have to carry me away on a strecher afterwards 'cause I know I will be back on the field to ump another game, and I'm sure as hell that I will not compromise to be scared to do so.

I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here.