[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Bob,

If you are working an American Legion Game or above you won't kill either of those plays. Yes, it is horrific and gut instinct demands that we protect the player. However, we've witnessed dozens of highlight reel plays showng athletes knocked loopy or out cold. The play continues for those few seconds until someone picks up the ball and holds it long enough for the umpire to call 'Time'.

In professional rules ball, even if the play was maliciously intended, 'Time' is not called. If you're examples were on a high school field, then you have every right to kill the play if the injury is serious or life threatening.

On the other side of the coin, I was working the infield with a runner on second and third (two man mechanics). I had cheated in because I knew the pitcher liked to pick guys off of third and had a great move. The batter hit a BB that took aim at my right quadriceps. Sure enough it caught me flush while I was in mid pirouette and I landed facing the centerfielder. My hands went up while I was on the ground. I put the batter on first and kept the other runners in place. The offensive coach went nuts as I was still trying to get to my feet. He said that just because I'm injured, I can't kill the play. I would have laughed had it not been for a bruise the size of Montana forming on an old man's thigh. I explained that no infielder could have played on it because of my 'interference'. He started *****ing that I cost his team a run or two and I grimaced that I had no intention of stopping that shot with my body, but things happen. His team wound up losing by a run and he still blames my big thigh for being n the way. So, here's another sitch, the umpire get's injured (collision with player, mask in the face, errant throw, etc). Do you kill the play?

[Edited by WhatWuzThatBlue on Jan 21st, 2006 at 06:21 PM]