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Originally Posted by canadaump6
Had this happen in a kids game a few days ago. Batter hits the ball into fair territory, it dribbles in front of home plate, and then while he is still in the batter's box he tosses his bat and the bat hits the ball. Can't remember if the bat had left his hands or not. I let the play stand as the batter was in the batter's box when he hit it a second time and as far as I could tell there was no intention to hit the ball a second time. It was more out of inexperience and not knowing what to do with the bat that made him hit the ball, but really there didn't seem to be any intent. I let the play stand, but now I'm thinking that I was wrong and it should have been called a foul ball.
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Usually when someone says the ball 'dribbles' on a baseball diamond they're describing a slow rolling grounder, the emhasis being on
roll.
I'm also a little confused here. You first said the batter 'tosses' his bat and then said you can't remember if the bat was still in his hands. You need to know this because it makes a difference as to whether or not you have a foul ball or a batter-runner out for interference. I don't know of a resource where you'll find this in writing, but traditionally when a batted ball goes straight down and 'bounces' back up making contact with the bat over fair territory as the batter-runner is exiting the box, it's ruled a foul ball. Now if he tosses it before the contact it's interference. The key to rembering this is.......
Ball hits bat...........foul ball.
Bat hits ball...........interference.
Tim.