Bean Ball?

[Blue37]

HS varsity between district rivals with no history of bad blood. I'm on the bases, top of 1st, runners on 1st and 2nd, two out, ground ball to third, easy throw to 1st for the third out. Suddenly there was contact between the runner and 1st baseman. I thought the 1st baseman had come off of the base far enough for there to have been no contact, but could not tell for sure. I immediately looked at my partner to see if he had anything, but he was looking at R2's touch of 3rd (don't digress into discussing that aspect). There were some hard looks, but no words, and I moved to my position in short right field.

Top of 3rd, same situation. Two on, two out, same batter at the plate. The pitcher came set, looked at R2, winked at the SS, and plunked the batter in the back. The batter made no reaction other than trotting to 1st.

Between innings, due to my concern that things might escalate, I went in and talked to my partner about the contact in the 1st innning and the wink to the SS. He had indeed missed the contact, and shared my concern about mantaining control of the game.

The pitcher was the first batter in the bottom of the 3rd, and he was hit with the 1st pitch. Since I was in A, I could not tell if it was intentional or one that got away. I looked to my partner to see if he was going to issue any warnings, but he did not. The pitcher went to first without any reaction. The game went seven innings without any further incidents.

After the game, I asked my partner about not warning the visiting pitcher when he hit the home pitcher in the bottom of the 3rd. He said he did. He told the catcher to go out and tell the pitcher that if he hit another batter, he would be ejected. He also told the home catcher the same thing in the top of the 4th.

Was this handled correctly? As the base ump, can I issue warnings? If yes, should I have issed a warning in the top of the 3rd? If no, should I have immediately gone in and told my partner about the wink so he could decide on whether to issue a warning? Should the warning be done openly so there is no doubt a warning has been given? Can the home pitcher be warned after the fact (after the visiting pitcher hit him)?

Thanks.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Blue37

HS varsity between district rivals with no history of bad blood. I'm on the bases, top of 1st, runners on 1st and 2nd, two out, ground ball to third, easy throw to 1st for the third out. Suddenly there was contact between the runner and 1st baseman. I thought the 1st baseman had come off of the base far enough for there to have been no contact, but could not tell for sure. I immediately looked at my partner to see if he had anything, but he was looking at R2's touch of 3rd (don't digress into discussing that aspect).

Right. We don't digress into discussing things that are correct.

There were some hard looks, but no words, and I moved to my position in short right field.

A quiet word with both players here could have helped -- it's tough to know for sure when it happens what to do.

Top of 3rd, same situation. Two on, two out, same batter at the plate. The pitcher came set, looked at R2, winked at the SS, and plunked the batter in the back. The batter made no reaction other than trotting to 1st.

Between innings, due to my concern that things might escalate, I went in and talked to my partner about the contact in the 1st innning and the wink to the SS. He had indeed missed the contact, and shared my concern about mantaining control of the game.

The pitcher was the first batter in the bottom of the 3rd, and he was hit with the 1st pitch. Since I was in A, I could not tell if it was intentional or one that got away. I looked to my partner to see if he was going to issue any warnings, but he did not. The pitcher went to first without any reaction. The game went seven innings without any further incidents.

After the game, I asked my partner about not warning the visiting pitcher when he hit the home pitcher in the bottom of the 3rd. He said he did. He told the catcher to go out and tell the pitcher that if he hit another batter, he would be ejected. He also told the home catcher the same thing in the top of the 4th.

Was this handled correctly?

Yes, imo

As the base ump, can I issue warnings? If yes, should I have issed a warning in the top of the 3rd? If no, should I have immediately gone in and told my partner about the wink so he could decide on whether to issue a warning?

This type of warning is best left to the plate umpire.

[FTVMartin]

I like the idea of telling the catcher but not making a big deal about giving an official warning. This way you don't force your hand on the next hit batter. It may not be intentional but the offensive team will be screaming for an ejection.

[lawump]

If this were a minor league game, this is how I would have handled it:

Originally Posted by Blue37

HS varsity between district rivals with no history of bad blood. I'm on the bases, top of 1st, runners on 1st and 2nd, two out, ground ball to third, easy throw to 1st for the third out. Suddenly there was contact between the runner and 1st baseman. I thought the 1st baseman had come off of the base far enough for there to have been no contact, but could not tell for sure. I immediately looked at my partner to see if he had anything, but he was looking at R2's touch of 3rd (don't digress into discussing that aspect). There were some hard looks, but no words, and I moved to my position in short right field.

Depending on how severe the contact was, and whether I was absolutely sure the B/R went out of his way to drill F3...I probably would have done nothing other than make a mental note.

Originally Posted by Blue37

Top of 3rd, same situation. Two on, two out, same batter at the plate. The pitcher came set, looked at R2, winked at the SS, and plunked the batter in the back. The batter made no reaction other than trotting to 1st.

The mental note I made above, is now triggered and I issue warnings to both teams (and basically let everyone know, "o.k. now you're both even...no more.")

Originally Posted by Blue37

The pitcher was the first batter in the bottom of the 3rd, and he was hit with the 1st pitch.

Bye-bye visiting team pitcher and manager.

Originally Posted by Blue37

As the base ump, can I issue warnings?

Not unless (1) You want me (the plate umpire) to kick your *** after the game or (2) you're the crew chief (and even then I'd be mad).

Originally Posted by Blue37

If no, should I have immediately gone in and told my partner about the wink so he could decide on whether to issue a warning?

No, meet between innings, IMO. Keep the game moving.

Originally Posted by Blue37

Should the warning be done openly so there is no doubt a warning has been given? Can the home pitcher be warned after the fact (after the visiting pitcher hit him)?

All warnings must be done openly. (And yes the managers will likely whine) On the professional level any warning given(about pitchers throwing at batters) is given to BOTH teams at the same time. You don't warn one team, and then wait to warn the other team after they've hit another batter to "even up the score". BOTH teams are always warned at the same time.

As an aside: Even on the professional level, if you know that a pitcher intentionally threw at a batter, you can toss him immediately without having given him a warning. (The manager would not be tossed, however.) Immediately, after the ejection (and before play resumes) you would then "issue warnings" so that the next time, the manager goes too.

[lawump]

I'll also post a war story from my minor league days:

Indians affiliate at Mets affiliate...there is no history of bad blood between the teams.

Bottom of the 6th, 2 outs, no runners (and we are sailing along with a pitcher's duel), the Indians' pitcher let one get away and he beaned the Met's batter. (Found out later that it broke his jaw). It was clearly unintentional...and clearly a case of a young pitcher trying to learn to pitch on the professional level.

Next batter comes up and quickly grounds into a fielder's choice.

Between innings I made the mental note. I even told the Mets' catcher that it was unintentional and don't let your guy throw at anyone.

We'll the very first pitch in the top of the 7th went off the batter's helmet. As my father (who was sitting in the stands) said after the game, "you could see the pitcher lining it up."

I came out and before the batter could even get up and dust himself off, I tossed the pitcher. The batter got up and starting yelling at the pitcher and pitcher starting yelling back. I grabbed the batter and starting yelling at the batter, "Don't be stupid, he's already been tossed, go to first." I had to yell it 3 or 4 times, before the batter finally heard me and looked at me and started toward first. I walked up the line between the batter and pitcher.

At the same time other players were beginning to come out of their dugouts. I yelled, "If I see anyone out of the dugout its a $100 fine." They all turned around and scurried back into the dugout. ($100 was the minor league fine for leaving the dugout for a fight and $100 is a lot to a minor leaguer).

My partner came down the first base line and walked the batter the rest of the way to first, and the pitcher left. As the new pitcher was warming up, I turned loudly to each dugout and said, "that's your warning."

The Indians' manager came out and quietly asked, "you didn't think our guy threw intentionally at them, did you?"

I said, "no, but their guy definitely threw at your guy so now you both get warnings."

He said, "o.k. No problem."

In perhaps the proudest moment I've ever had on a field, the next batter as he was entering the batter's box (after the pitcher had completed his warm-ups) turned to me and said, "Its nice to finally have someone in charge out here."

The game finished without further incident.

[JJ]

I umpire mostly college level baseball. If someone gets plunked, I always consider the situation. If team A hits consective bombs and the next batter gets "dusted", I will ALWAYS at least issue a warning. Even if the pitcher wasn't throwing at the batter, the perception is that he WAS. If that thought flashes through my mind, it will flash through a lot of other minds as well. So if I err in issuing that warning, I've erred on the side of safety. Smart baseball minds know that and accept it - and it does show that I'm aware of what's going on around me.

JJ

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Blue37

HS varsity between district rivals with no history of bad blood. I'm on the bases, top of 1st, runners on 1st and 2nd, two out, ground ball to third, easy throw to 1st for the third out. Suddenly there was contact between the runner and 1st baseman. I thought the 1st baseman had come off of the base far enough for there to have been no contact, but could not tell for sure. I immediately looked at my partner to see if he had anything, but he was looking at R2's touch of 3rd (don't digress into discussing that aspect). There were some hard looks, but no words, and I moved to my position in short right field.

I can't help it. I have to digress since you threw your partner under the bus. His only job on this play was.......well, what you said....watching R2 touch third.

Where were you? If the ground ball was to third, you should've had a great angle at first base by the time the ball arrived there.