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Last night I had a great pitcher's duel with a total of 26 SO's and a final score of 0-1, with the home team's pitcher scoring the only run. Great game to call indeed. However, there was one point in the fourth when the home team's catcher, who is at bat, gets hit on the wrist with a pitch. I call "dead ball," and award her first. At that time the opposing coach calls time and approaches me. Very quietly, yet matter of factly, she looks at me and asks;
"Blue...um...where did that pitch hit the batter?"
"Looked like the wrist to me."
"Hit her on her wrist, huh?! Umm...well...blue...you do know that the hands are considered to be part of the bat, don't you."
"Why no coach...that so?!"
"Yes....so the most that we should have is a foul ball."
"Coach...that is just a myth. The hands aren't part of the bat."
"Yes they are."
"If that is so, coach, tell your batters to leave their hands behind with the bat when they run to first."
"They can't do that!"
"I know...that is why the hands are not considered to be part of the bat."
"No...but they are considered to be part of the bat."
"No coach...that is a myth that I have often wondered how it got started. The only things that I am looking at on a hit batsman is, a)did she offer at the pitch, and if she did, then no matter where it hits her I have a strike. Next....if she didn't offer at the pitch, did she make an effort to get out of the way of the wayward pitch...and, if she did, then I have a dead ball and a runner on first."
"Are you sure about that blue."
"Positive."
"Well, then...did she offer at the pitch?"
Coaches...gotta love them. Funny thing was, the very next half inning her pitcher took one in the hand. I didn't hear one thing about the hands being part of the bat then.
Scott
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