Touching First Base While Holding The Bat

[LLUmpire]

Is it a violation of the rules to touch the bases while holding the bat?

If so, what rule?

I have played softball and have had teamates called out twice for this and I can't find the rule.

Is it a safety issue?

Use 9.01(c)?

Any ideas?

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by LLUmpire
Is it a violation of the rules to touch the bases while holding the bat?

If so, what rule?

I have played softball and have had teamates called out twice for this and I can't find the rule.

Is it a safety issue?

Use 9.01(c)?

Any ideas?

I've never run across any rule that prohibits this and I've only seen this happen once in 20 years at a NCAA game. The defense will not take too kindly to this and you may even get a coach out there comnplaining. As longas the batter isn't taunting anyone I think that you just have to let it go. The defense will take care of the situation on the next pitch (upper level).

At the LL level, I don't think that it really means anything. I think that the grown-ups should keep quiet and have a coke and a smile!

[officialtony]

ozzy6900
Thanks for the info.
I have also seen a batter called out in a freshman game by an umpire for carrying the bat to 1st base and touching the bag. He was half running and watching to see if his hit was fair or foul. Coach complained a lot but umpire stood his ground and kept the call. I asked about it at this years association meeting and everyone said no rule covering it. However they expressed the same ideas you had in your reply.

[mcrowder]

There are no rules in any association I'm familiar with (including softball) that can justify calling the batter out for that. PU was pulling one out of his backside.

I HAVE played in a local league (slowpitch) that had a local rule that called a batter out. Perhaps this is a local rule?

[LDUB]

Originally posted by LLUmpire
Is it a violation of the rules to touch the bases while holding the bat?

If so, what rule?

I have played softball and have had teamates called out twice for this and I can't find the rule.

Is it a safety issue?

Use 9.01(c)?

Any ideas?

If you saw Major League on ESPN Classic, they were wrong when the posted the ruling on the bottom of the screen.

This is being discussed on McGriff's board.
http://www.gmcgriff.com/discus/messa...tml?1112282893

[GarthB]

Originally posted by LLUmpire
Is it a violation of the rules to touch the bases while holding the bat?

If so, what rule?

I have played softball and have had teamates called out twice for this and I can't find the rule.

Is it a safety issue?

Use 9.01(c)?

Any ideas?

It is not a rule in Baseball. What is this game you mention called "Softball"?

[DG]

Originally posted by mcrowder
There are no rules in any association I'm familiar with (including softball) that can justify calling the batter out for that. PU was pulling one out of his backside.

I HAVE played in a local league (slowpitch) that had a local rule that called a batter out. Perhaps this is a local rule?

I'm amazed you missed this opportunity to say that the hands are part of the bat so when the hands went to 1B so did the bat, so what's the problem?

[mikebran]

From INTERNET MOVIE DATA BASE.

Under GOOFS, for the movie, MAJOR LEAGUE.

Factual errors: Near the end of the movie, Cerrano hits a home run, and then circles the bases while holding his bat. The rule is that if you touch first base and are still holding your bat, you are out.

The writer probably has a friend, who knows somebody, who umpires 9 year old LL. Or Low Level JV, somewhere...

See it yourself at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097815/goofs

[mcrowder]

Even low level JV, or 9U LL - carrying the bat around the bases is not against any rule.