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Just Don't Do It...

Every once in a while I get sidetracked from my intended purpose with regards to this board. I have long enjoyed teaching the newbies and redirecting the veterans. I saw this article and figured it was as timely as anything:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverPost

Article Launched: 04/21/2006 01:00:00 AM MDT

Lawsuit against umpire back in play
By Howard Pankratz
Denver Post Staff Writer

As a 10-year-old, Austin Wright was hit by a flying baseball bat as he stood in the on-deck circle waiting to bat.

The bat shattered five of his permanent teeth and cut his upper lip.

Years later in 2004, when he became an adult, Wright filed a lawsuit against the umpire who tossed the bat at the May 1995 game of the Jefferson County Junior Baseball League.

The league said the umpire tossed the bat so a player running from third to home wouldn't trip over it.

The league said neither it nor the umpire had any liability because Wright's father had signed a waiver releasing the league from any claims of negligence or injury to his son.

Jefferson County District Judge Margie Enquist agreed and dismissed the lawsuit before it went to trial.

But the Colorado Court of Appeals reversed Enquist on Thursday and said the case should proceed to trial.

Appellate Judge Daniel Taubman said Colorado law specifically says that such waivers don't exempt those who act in grossly negligent or willful or wanton ways.

Taubman wrote that there were any number of ways the ump - who in the lawsuit is known as John Doe and is now the only defendant - could have acted in a willful and wanton manner.

"If a base runner had been approaching home plate, Doe's conduct may have been negligent because he might have simply thrown the bat in a manner that a reasonably careful person under the same pressure to prevent an injury would not have done," Taubman said.
The ump's conduct also may have been willful and wanton, if on seeing the runner, he grabbed the bat and consciously decided to throw it into the on-deck circle without regard to whether he'd injure someone, the opinion said.

Tony Leffert, the lawyer defending the umpire, said umpires throw bats out of the way all the time.

"I will tell you that I've probably seen umpires pick up a bat and throw it out of the base path at least 100 times. It happens at least once every game, if not more. It is a common occurrence," Leffert said.

"This umpire is someone who arguably got paid, but they are paid a minimum value to umpire games for kids. To make an allegation and to pursue a claim that the umpire intentionally is throwing a bat at kids and hitting them (is) frankly ... outrageous," he said.

Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or [email protected].

What's the lesson here? ;)

Slide the bat on the ground!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

I don't generally touch the bat unless it hits me.
Are there proper guidelines to follow?
I dunno.
mick

Mick:

If a play at the plate is imminent and provided you have the time to do it just position yourself over the bat with it centered between your legs. Then bend down and simply slide it backwards between your legs, all the while keeping your eyes on the developing play.

Tim.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

So..., that is a safety issue that we are advised to follow as a matter of practicality, to avoid potential injury ?

I assume the bat oughta be in a 6'-8' distance from the plate?
mick

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

So..., that is a safety issue that we are advised to follow as a matter of practicality, to avoid potential injury ?

I assume the bat oughta be in a 6'-8' distance from the plate?
mick

I think it is, especially at the youth level. It's not very often I have to clear a bat for the players who shave though. The catcher usually takes care of it.

As far as the distance goes, out of the way is out of the way.

Tim.

I give it a shove with my foot. Place your foot near the big end on the opposite side of where you want it to go and then sweep your foot in that direction you want it to go. It generally moves 3-4 feet, and on the ground.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Okay.

By my 6'-8' vicinity. I should have said:

If the bat is farther away than 6'-8', even if it's in the infield, I'd like to forget it, but should I.

mick

I only worry about a bat that is anywhere near an advancing runner's basepath. If he steps on it he could break an ankle or foot. If it is out of a runner's way, I don't worry about it.

Gee - what kind of legal system lets you wait nine years to file suit? That usually is only allowable if it took that long to discover the damages - and I suspect that the discovery was pretty instant in this case.

And people wonder why LL prohibits on deck hitters . . . .

I don't mess with bats or other equipment.

The last thing I want to have happen, is to miss something, or get tangled up with a player while I am reaching for a bat (or other equipment). Or I guess, hit another player with the equipment I am moving.

Good lesson to be learned here, especially for us in California. Like Colorado, this is a sue happy state, with judges that want to keep their lawyer friends in business, and an appellate court that wants everything to go to trial. Forget common sense, and forget what is the right thing to do.

Unless you have video of this umpire picking up the bat, looking directly at the kid in the on deck circle, taking aim, and letting it fly purposely at the player, this thing should not go to trial. My guess is the umpire felt absolutely awful about it when it happened, and would have done anything to take that bat in the head himself instead. This player simply sounds like a person who has failed at making their own way in life, and is now going to try to steal someone else's accomplishments to fund their own future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DG

I only worry about a bat that is anywhere near an advancing runner's basepath. If he steps on it he could break an ankle or foot. If it is out of a runner's way, I don't worry about it.

That sorta works, DG.
But if we protect the runner why not then protect F1, F2 or Fn ?
I don't disagree with you, I just wonder where it stops.
mick

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

That sorta works, DG.
But if we protect the runner why not then protect F1, F2 or Fn ?
I don't disagree with you, I just wonder where it stops.
mick

The catcher is generally setting up for a throw at the plate and the bat poses no danger to him. The pitcher is generally running around the home plate area to back up the throw home and the bat poses no danger to him either. Both have plenty of time to see it, the catcher will often move it himself. The runner is the only one who is running hard toward HP and if a bat is in his way it is more hazardous to him than to the catcher or the pitcher.

The umpire should clear the bat only if time permits. His plays come first. Nothing wrong with cash game umpires. I don't umpire for free myself, and I don't act that way. This guy sounded like a butt, and nearly maimed you with the bat, so I see your point. An umpire should also be there because he loves baseball. If you don't enjoy umpiring, you should find something else to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Oh, I thought you sais he threw the brat!;)

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/photo/photoga...r_large/06.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jsharp22/afv11.gif

Tim.

LMAO

Look at Mike Reilly, he looks like he's thinking, "Oh, sh*t!!!"

That clown in the second picture sure cleared the bat, didn't he?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Oh, I thought you sais he threw the brat!;)

http://home.comcast.net/~jsharp22/afv11.gif

Tim.

HA! That's the funniest thing that I've seen today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

The lesson here is that Little League has it right, not allowing an on-deck circle or batter for kids 12 and under.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Some suits are allowed for a period of time after a minor becomes an adult, not only for a period of time after the incident.

Once upon a time, I was instructed to pick up the bat and toss it to the side, away from the playing action. Backstops were not what they are today and most of the fields didn't have dugouts, just a bench behind the fence back then.

About twenty years ago, I started kicking the bat to the side with a steel toed plate shoe. I have been doing it this way ever since.

Sometimes, if the play is developing (say R2 on an outfield hit), I'll tell the catcher to clear the bat so that he doesn't have it in the way. Almost always he utilizes the foot wedge to get the job done.

Whatever you do, don't toss the bat in the air. Kick it or slide it with purpose. I'm sure that CB or Bob will agree that acting like this is preventative and prudent - not acting in an irresponsible and reckless manner. But then again, I pay my attorney to think fabout those things for me...

Safety? Not really

I had a bunt situation my rookie season, with a LL runner on third base where the bat rolled back into the batters box. At the time, I would sometimes bend down to remove the bat from the 3B line in front of home plate for safety reasons. Now I recognize this as a very bad habit.

The LL catcher was moving out with the ball along the foul line in this situation and I thought it was no big deal. When I looked up, the catcher had already thrown the ball to first to retire the speedster. Needless to say, ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out; one of those was MY responsibility. Half the fans were applauding the catcher and the other half were screaming FOUL at me.

How many times have I seen a LL runner injure himself while sliding over a bat or base? None. How many times do I ever want to miss that call again? ZERO. How many times have I had to make a split decision on a fair/foul sac bunt in the batters box where I need to line myself with the baseline? Many. From that moment on I decided to keep my eyes on the BALL. Leave the bat alone and/or kick the bat forward towards the pitcher's mound while I move into a position for a possible play at the plate.

When it comes to getting the bat out of the way take a NAP

N-Necessary- Is a play happening where the bat may get in the way.
A-Accessible- Is the bat in a location that allows you to move it without
getting too far out of position without recovering.
P-Practical- Is the play such that you can take the time to get the bat out
of the way.

When getting the bat out slide it straight back without taking your eyes off the play.