Old Partner
 

Worked with an older guy the other night. FED rules. Sometimes I'm not sure where they get these guy, and I have really no say in where I get assigned or who I'm assigned with - but

R3, R2 with 2 outs when the BR hits a double. R3 & R2 both score, or so I assumed. I followed the BR to 2nd, and turn around to find the old guy standing at the mound with his fist in the air.

"Batter is out and no runs score!" he states.

The fielders start heading off the field, and I approach my partner.

"What happened?" I asked. He states that the batter threw his bat hitting the catcher in the face mask. He called him out for throwing the bat!

I calmly explain to him that it is not an automatic out, but a team warning. He then argues that they must have changed the rules, because its always been an out for throwing the bat.

This guy was really old, so maybe it used to be a rule, but In Fed ball has it ever been an out for throwing the bat?

I keep cracking up when I read the horror stories of some partners with whom guys here have worked. Makes even my worst partners seem that much better! :)

BU,

Take it easy, it may be you that someone writes this about some day, or me.

thank you. ;)

Well, not everyone, Bob. :p

And to think I get the chance to spend another wonderful weekend with ya! What's the over/under on some more weird stuff happening?

Do I hear a detached gear coming? :D

First.. What is your definition of "really old"?

Second..I started umping FED baseball in 1973. There was no rule calling for an out for throwing the bat, even back then. Unless the thrown bat interferred with a fielder attempting to make a play.

Bob

;) No rudeness intended on the "really old" part!

Really old to me is having the field umpire standing behind the mound on every play because he can't run to the bases.

Really old is not only remembering Ty Cobb, but your daughter used to baby-sit him.

Really old is umpiring a game where the batter points to where he wants the pitch thrown, and the pitcher has to throw it there.

Really old is a calling a runner out when they are hit by a thrown ball, take off their leather helmet before play is over, or throw the bat (which you can see that their hands are still attached).:D

What if the team has been warned, what is the proper protocol for a thrown bat after team has been warned??

Batter is ejected.....get a new player to take BR's place if he made it to first safely....still no out.;)

I thought Fed had them restricted to the dugout instead of the ejection. I could be wrong though.

Still not an out. I've seen it called many times in the younger levels though. It' could be a local rule but it is not in the Fed Book and as far as I know never has been.

That's funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D