Throwing the bat

[Senor Azul]

The Major Leagues actually do have an official interpretation for carelessly thrown bats. It is from Harry Wendelstedt and it is dated July 2012 and it reads as follows:

 

If the umpire is hit by a carelessly thrown bat, he is "almost certain" to warn the batter that such action must be stopped. On the second offense, the player is told he will be ejected if he continues. On a third offense, the umpire should eject the offender.

 

The Fed interpretation says:

 

A player may not carelessly throw his bat. PENALTY: Team warning/ejection.

 

An interesting detail of the Fed's ruling is that it also applies to defensive players who are clearing bats from the field of play and accidentally hit someone (for example, the on-deck batter).

 

 

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I didn't see one but maybe I missed it. I had a kid throw a bat in this league it hit nobody(if it had I would have called him out because of safety) but the DHC was whining that it should be an out, I said that this league lacks that amendment. Am I correct that OBR itself has no rule on this?

No!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't make stuff up!!!!! If the league wanted a stupid rule like that, they would adopt it.

Here its not a myth its a rule in 99% of the leagues add in a rule that it is an out.

Sad. Truly sad. (Though I am impressed that you have 100 local leagues so that the one league that does it righ is only one percent.)I didn't mean that number literally, I meant its rare for leagues to have it that way. We have 20 youth leagues/organizations(rec amd travel) in my area 1 maybe 2 have not added in this rule. (I don't work all these leagues, I work the travel league mostly and 3 rec leagues but know most of the rec leagues rules in case I have to fill in)

[cyclonehokiece]

The best way to get rid of a stupid local rule is to enforce it. Although this one, most people are ok with the out penalty because they feel it is "fair." Enforce the rule as written. Nothing is stopping you from ejecting the player if it becomes a major issue with one player.

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[Dean]

LOL - I don't care where the bat goes, as long as it doesn't come back to the catcher or myself.  (sarcasm - well kind of)

[NoCal Blue]

IMO

If we as officials simply apply and enforce the rules consistently and as written, then much of the "house rule" problem would be unnecessary. I've seen as I'm sure many of us have, the official that doesn't know the rule(s), see the issue or want to write up the report. This makes it tough on everyone involved. 

 

Coaches, players, fans etc. ...that know that a thrown bat can lead to an ejection are much more likely to cover it, leading to fewer thrown bats. In fact, if it's done properly, it adds to the education of the player. There is no need to make a HUGE production out of it. Clearly and calmly communicate, remove the player and move on.

 

I equate it to getting a traffic citation. If you roll through a stop sign and are cited, your not happy. You might even try and argue your case with the officer. Next time you come to a stop sign though your more likely to come to a complete stop.

 

I'm sure many of you will have other thoughts but in my experience many of these types of issues start and end with us.

[Ump29]

In my area (and province wide) a deliberate throwing of any equipment is an automatic ejection. There is no rule for an out. We use modified OBR.

[Rich Ives]

In my area (and province wide) a deliberate throwing of any equipment is an automatic ejection. There is no rule for an out. We use modified OBR.

 

So if the batter walks and tosses the bat toward the dugout he's ejected?

 

Is it an ejection if the catcher grabs a bat that is on the 3B line and tosses it aside to get it out of the way? What if the PU does it - does he eject himself?

 

Runner tosses helmet to his base coach after the inning ends - ejection?

 

Or do you have someone with a radar gun check the speed of the bat and only eject if it's over a certain speed?

[Tksjewelry]

In my area (and province wide) a deliberate throwing of any equipment is an automatic ejection. There is no rule for an out. We use modified OBR.

So if the batter walks and tosses the bat toward the dugout he's ejected?

Is it an ejection if the catcher grabs a bat that is on the 3B line and tosses it aside to get it out of the way? What if the PU does it - does he eject himself?

Runner tosses helmet to his base coach after the inning ends - ejection?

Or do you have someone with a radar gun check the speed of the bat and only eject if it's over a certain speed?

That's incredibly obtuse.

[Senor Azul]

Mr. Tksjewelry,

 

Shakespeare said "Brevity is the soul of wit" and you have captured what I wish I could have said in response to the previous post in just a few wisely chosen words. Bravo, sir!

 

 

[Senor Azul]

Mr. Ump29,

 

The original poster in this thread, Mr. BaltimoreUmpire, explained in post number 5 that he was not referring to deliberately thrown equipment in disgust of an umpire's call.

 

You play your baseball in Nova Scotia under modified OBR but we have the same interpretation here in the US for thrown equipment to show displeasure with an umpire's decision. All three major codes have essentially the same language prohibiting this kind of on-field behavior. Here's the OBR interpretation:

 

Any player throwing equipment in disgust of an umpire's call shall be reported and subject to fine, and if flagrant, to ejection...

 

NCAA: A player may be immediately ejected for intentionally throwing his bat or helmet because of his displeasure at an umpire's call or because of his disgust with himself.

 

Fed: Players may not deliberately throw "a bat, helmet, etc." to show their disgust. (3-3-1m; 3.3.1x) PENALTY: ejection.

 

And it was obvious to me what you meant to say about deliberately thrown bats i.e., to express disgust with a call.

[Rich Ives]

 

 

In my area (and province wide) a deliberate throwing of any equipment is an automatic ejection. There is no rule for an out. We use modified OBR.

So if the batter walks and tosses the bat toward the dugout he's ejected?

Is it an ejection if the catcher grabs a bat that is on the 3B line and tosses it aside to get it out of the way? What if the PU does it - does he eject himself?

Runner tosses helmet to his base coach after the inning ends - ejection?

Or do you have someone with a radar gun check the speed of the bat and only eject if it's over a certain speed?

 

That's incredibly obtuse.

 

 

Not really. Just illustrating the absurdity of poorly written rules.