Discarded Bat

[rmorr]

NFHS softball rules. Batter hits ball fair which drops in front of F9. Plate umpire calls batter runner out because she released her bat which then hit the catcher. What is the applicable rule? 7.4.14?

[BigBlue4u]

7 hours ago, rmorr said:

NFHS softball rules. Batter hits ball fair which drops in front of F9. Plate umpire calls batter runner out because she released her bat which then hit the catcher. What is the applicable rule? 7.4.14?

 

7 hours ago, rmorr said:

NFHS softball rules. Batter hits ball fair which drops in front of F9. Plate umpire calls batter runner out because she released her bat which then hit the catcher. What is the applicable rule? 7.4.14?

Assuming it was unintentional and If it didn't interfere with play, I would warn the player if it happened again, he/she would be ejected.  I had this happen once in my entire career.  It was a playoff game the batter would toss his bat to get momentum out of the batter's box.  Although he did not hit the catcher, I warned him and his coach it was a safety issue and if it happened again, he would be ejected.  He did it again in his next at-bat and was ejected. 

[Jay R.]

If this is a high school game, this is probably grounds for a protest. 

The only way it's interference (and thus an out) is if the bat prevents the catcher from participating in the play, which doesn't sound like the case here. Alternatively, if this is a rec league that uses NFHS rules, there could be a local modification that thrown bats are outs. 

As @BigBlue4u hinted at, this is only a problem at lower levels, which means only Little League has a consistent method of dealing with this. Warn, then give the opportunity for the coach to remove the player, then eject if necessary. 

If the same player did it twice egregiousy in a high school game, I would consider ejecting or restricting to the bench, but I don't think there's any grounds for an out as described. 

 

[rmorr]

I appreciate both responses.

Yes, a HS game. I'm a relatively new umpire and was working the bases in A (2 umps system) so, when hit, I checked the path of the ball then stepped in watching for a play at 1st. I didn't see the bat hit the catcher, but my partner, a very experienced umpire called the batter runner out immediately, for what he described as a forcefully slung bat. It was the final out in a run rule loss for the home team so, game over. I certainly understand the safety issue but haven't found the precise rule for this situation.

[BigBlue4u]

51 minutes ago, rmorr said:

I certainly understand the safety issue but haven't found the precise rule for this situation.

10-2-3-g

[MadMax]

4 hours ago, Jay R. said:

If the same player did it twice egregiousy in a high school game, I would consider ejecting or restricting to the bench, but I don't think there's any grounds for an out as described.

 

52 minutes ago, rmorr said:

I certainly understand the safety issue but haven't found the precise rule for this situation.

You're not going to find that rule in any rules book, other than the IMTSU Rulebook. 

IMTSU is pronounced "I Made This S#it Up". 

Really. Seriously. This has to stop. No, not the slung / flung bats... these are kids, kids are morons... no, I mean the making 💩up because I feel that something should be done! Facts don't care about your feelings, and the fact is that there is 0 – Zee-Eee-Arr-OOOOOOhhhhh rules support for the call of "Out". 

The only way you're getting a (justifiable) Out on this is if the ball is popped up in the vicinity of Home plate, and the flung bat interferes with the catcher (F2), and his/her ability to make a catch attempt on that ball (regardless of fair or foul). Flown to F9? Fat chance, not happening. 

Don't care if it was a run-rule game anyway. Don't flush your integrity down the same toilet to where that s#!t belongs. 

[jimurrayalterego]

28 minutes ago, MadMax said:

 

You're not going to find that rule in any rules book, other than the IMTSU Rulebook. 

 

 

If by "that rule" you mean an out for the violation you are correct. You will find a rule in NFHS baseball: 3-3-1-c. Team warning and ejection for next occurrence by team.

[The Man in Blue]

4 hours ago, jimurrayalterego said:

If by "that rule" you mean an out for the violation you are correct. You will find a rule in NFHS baseball: 3-3-1-c. Team warning and ejection for next occurrence by team.

 

I would argue that is NOT the intent of that rule, as it is in a section addressing behavior by "A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel . . . " and addresses behaviors such as leaving the dugout during a live ball, wearing bandanas, and hitting a ball to the defense after the gam has started.

I would argue releasing the bat on your swing is not throwing it.

You could argue it could apply because it also lists making a fake tag, which could only be done by a active player on the defense.

I'll strike my comments from the record.  However, I'm leaving this:

Let's get silly now . . . NFHS Baseball 3-3-1-e states

A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not . . . hit the ball to players on defense after the game has started.

The penalty is a team warning with the next offender ejected.

So . . . did that just outlaw the offense hitting the ball?

[The Man in Blue]

Since the OP said this is NFHS Softball, the appropriate cite and verbiage is "A team member shall not carelessly throw a bat" found at 3-6-3.

The penalty is a team warning with subsequent offenders being ejected.

Again, I would argue that is not the intent of this rule, but I can see how people may use it that way.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 minute ago, The Man in Blue said:

Since the OP said this is NFHS Softball, the appropriate cite and verbiage is "A team member shall not carelessly throw a bat" found at 3-6-3.

The penalty is a team warning with subsequent offenders being ejected.

Again, I would argue that is not the intent of this rule, but I can see how people may use it that way.

FED baseball has a caseplay where the batter hits the ball and releases his bat which hits F2 or the Umpire. I think the rule applies when completing a swing and letting the bat fly.

[The Man in Blue]

Well, there you go.  

Circa 2018 (may still be there, I don't have a newer digital edition) . . . 

 

 

Edit to add: Checked the current physical book.  Still there!