[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by SAump

That severe penalty also applies to bandannas and jewelry, and playing pepper or electronic equipment during a game. All of those are allowed at the MLB level behind the Cardinals dugout.

Professional players are adults who really don't need to be protected. The NFHS, along with most other organizations that govern youth baseball have decided that wearing jewelry is a safety hazard, and in order to protect the games participants they've implemented safety rules that disallow players from wearing any. I don't know of any umpires in my area that will eject a player for wearing jewelry unless after being asked to remove it they refuse.

Originally Posted by SAump

Usually a bat goes flying into the stands and the batter is not warned.

I've never seen a bat go flying into the stands in a high school game. But if I did you can bet there would be a warning issued.

Originally Posted by SAump

He already knows that he should HOLD on to the bat. The majority of players that carelessly tossed bats or helmets out of misplaced anger have already been declared OUT. This is usually followed by an immediate ejection. It happens every season.

A bat thrown out of anger or frustration is not a carelessly thrown bat, so of course they should be ejected immediately.

Originally Posted by SAump

Why allow the clown who happens to reach base safely to engage in dangerous behavior? Again I understand the current rule. It is a rule I don't like and a rule I would amend to read, "The ejected player is declared OUT, unless he has already scored." Rules do not protect a dangerous runner that way, so why should rules protect a dangerous hitter?

I'm still not sure why you'd like to see a more severe penalty for an inadvertant action on the part of a batter that doesn't effect the play. He's done nothing malicious or intentional. When I think of a carelessly discarded bat I think of a bat that accidentally slips out of a players hands on his follow swing, not some overt act to injure someone.


Tim.