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OK, let's talk about something a bit more vanilla and see how much we all agree/disagree on a more practical matter.
Let's do it in sort of a survey format. If nothing else it will be interesting to see the different opinions. We may accidentally learn something from each other in the process.
Situation: R1, fewer than 2 outs, no count on the batter. The hit & run is on. The defense guesses right and throws a pitchout.
Play: The batter lunges at the outside pitch, the bat comes out of his hands and then he ...
(A) hits a fair ball
(B) misses the ball but the bat hits the catcher's glove (before the catcher had an opportunity to catch the pitch) resulting in a passed ball with the runner advancing to 3rd.
(C) misses the ball but the bat hits the catcher's glove (after the catcher had secured the pitch), knocking the ball loose and resulting in no play possible on R1.
The bat leaving the batter's hands appeared to be more a result of lunging and over-reaching than any obvious attempt to simply throw his bat. Or, would that matter?
Neither the batter nor catcher were positioned illegally at any time. (i.e. batter remained in the batter's box and the catcher was not in front of the plate.)
Ruling for (A), (B), and (C)?
David Emerling
Memphis, TN
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