Two questions from a coach please...

[UmpJM]

DG,

Under OBR, the following works for me:

3.14
Members of the offensive team shall carry all gloves and other equipment off the field and to the dugout while their team is at bat. No equipment shall be left lying on the field, either in fair or foul territory.

Under FED, I think 1-3-7 does the trick:

...Loose equipment, such as gloves, bats, helmets or catcher's gear, of either team may not be on or near the field.
Penalty: If loose equipment interferes with play, the umpire may call an out(s), award bases or return runners, based on his judgment and the circumstances concerning the play.

Edited to add, in response to bossman's query:

From the JEA discsussion of 3.14:

Customs and Usage: Umpires should monitor the area in front of the dugouts and insure that gloves and
equipment are not left lying on the playing field. Equipment lying on the "lip" of the dugout is legal but a thrown ball
that strikes it is considered "in the dugout".

JM

[DG]

JM

3.14 carrys no penalty.

1-3-7 provides for umpire to use judgement.

JEA comment on 3.14 allows me to rule that a thrown ball was prevented from entering the dugout by a glove on the lip of the dugout so I should rule it would have entered the dugout and thus DBT and award bases accordingly.

Now let's say the runner rounded 3B, did not appear to have any intention
of going home on the overthrow, the ball bounces off the bucket. Unless hitting the bucket prevented the ball from entering DBT, I have nothing. I don't see an "automatic" on this in OBR or FED.

Of course OBR is not going to cover coaches sitting on buckets outside the dugout because it ain't happening, and shouldn't happen in FED, so the rules can't completely cover stuff that ain't supposed to be happening.

[UmpJM]

DG,

I believe we are on the same page on this question. If I'm the umpire, all of the benefit of the doubt is going in favor of the team whose coach wasn't sitting on a bucket outside the dugout.

JM

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

DG,

I believe we are on the same page on this question. If I'm the umpire, all of the benefit of the doubt is going in favor of the team whose coach wasn't sitting on a bucket outside the dugout.

JM

All we have to do as umpires is award the appropriate team and it will start to curtail the practice real quick, this is if they refuse to comply to your request to move into the dugout of course.

[DG]

It's a hypothetical rules question, because I don't allow coaches to sit in front of the dugout on buckets.

Originally Posted by DG

JM

1-3-7 provides for umpire to use judgement.

Now let's say the runner rounded 3B, did not appear to have any intention
of going home on the overthrow, the ball bounces off the bucket. Unless hitting the bucket prevented the ball from entering DBT, I have nothing. I don't see an "automatic" on this in OBR or FED.

The bucket does not have to prevent the ball from going in DBT - the question is what might have happened if the bucket wasn't there. If not hitting the bucket could have allowed the runner to advence as opposed to the ball bouncing off the bucket towards HP giving the defense an advantage, then you can award HP. For example, if the ball doesn't hit the bucket, maybe it rolls to the fence where a fielder has to run 40 feet further away from HP as opposed to the ball bouncing off the bucket 20 feet closer to HP. It's still a judgment as to whether the bucket had any effect.

The closest thing I can find to it is the CB 1-3-7 Situation B. Not exact, but close enough to give you the idea.

[DG]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

The bucket does not have to prevent the ball from going in DBT - the question is what might have happened if the bucket wasn't there. If not hitting the bucket could have allowed the runner to advence as opposed to the ball bouncing off the bucket towards HP giving the defense an advantage, then you can award HP. For example, if the ball doesn't hit the bucket, maybe it rolls to the fence where a fielder has to run 40 feet further away from HP as opposed to the ball bouncing off the bucket 20 feet closer to HP. It's still a judgment as to whether the bucket had any effect.

The closest thing I can find to it is the CB 1-3-7 Situation B. Not exact, but close enough to give you the idea.

Like I said, judgement. That means there is no automatic award as was previously suggested. Keep them in the dugout and you don't have this issue.