Quote:
Originally posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
As I stated earlier this month in a basketball thread, civility in society (as well as sportsmanship) has been declining over the last fifteen years, and to condone behavior of the batter as described in the original post, is shear nonsense. The batter's conduct cannot be rationalized in anyway possible.
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I may not commit myself to saying this is an automatic ejection everytime - I myself may choose some other way to teach a little sportsmanship. BUT I WOULDN'T OBJECT OF ANY UMPIRE THAT FEELS IMMEDIATE EJECTION IS THE APPROPRIATE PENALTY. Ejection is absolutely appropriate.
Depending upon what my mood is and how the game is going, who the coach is, etc. I may choose some other way to correct this unacceptable behavior. I feel each situation warrants its own response.
This action will not go unnoticed nor unpunished. Expanding the zone... probably not - that's my integrity. I don't know that the pitcher is going to throw out there now. I do think that hoping that the pitcher will throw outside and that I will call them strikes is the wrong approach - that action leaves the possibility that the batter will go unpunished - next pitch might be down the tube for a homerun.
To reinforce Mark, it is sad that officials are put into a position where they need to teach sportsmanship. That is the coach's job... and yes historically (there are exceptions, and Bobby Knight isn't one of them) they seem to be doing a poorer and poorer job. Our society is becoming very tolerant of disrespect. It is sad, sad, sad. Kids today truthfully do have No Fear. Punishment from parents and coaches is virtually nonexistent; our legal system has continuously placed blame and punishment on the wrong parties.
Back to the topic at hand...
How obvious was his scratch in the dirt? I might tell the batter to go to his coach. Tell your coach what you just did. And then tell him I want a substitute for you. Tell the substitute what you did too. You've got 20 seconds hurry up. Same result but not as emotional and not as showboat/retaliatory. My response should be similar to the tone of the original act.
Not to change the subject but most ejections I've seen or enforced myself were following an action where a player was called out. In this situation, is the ejection also an out or do you just get a new batter to assume the existing count?