Advice needed on "Hands part of the bat" myth

[RogersUmp]

I was trying to think where a myth like this would originate? Who thought this one up? All I could come up with is it makes the call easier for the lazy umpire. You don't have to determine if the ball hit the hands or the bat because it's all the same call. Somewhere on a sandlot field someone proabably made it up to make the call easier...it's always a foul ball and requires no determination if the ball hit the bat or the hands.

TwoBits - I think posting the 40 myths at the little league ballpark is a great idea! Hopefully people will share their wealth of new knowledge!!

[Kevin Finnerty]

A parent at a recent game after I call a guy out on a banger: "Come on, Blue, tie goes to the runner!"

Sideline conversation with coach during a substitution: "You know, Casey [his actual name], your parents combine more words with less knowledge than any group of parents in the greater Los Angeles area."

Reaction: couldn't stop laughing long enough to respond. Every time I looked at him the rest of the day and after the game, he started chuckling.

[Forest Ump]

I think you can count on the rules myths coming up in any youth game. That's where the myths thrive until they can bubble to the surface and get shot down by a good umpire.

I called an 11-12 yo game last month. The coach wanted a strike because the batter did not pull the bat back on a bunt attempt. Same coach in another game claimed he could change the batting order if the batters had not come up yet. I make it a point to quietly tell the coach the proper rule. If he becomes a rat, I'm not so quite.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

I think you can count on the rules myths coming up in any youth game. That's where the myths thrive until they can bubble to the surface and get shot down by a good umpire.

I called an 11-12 yo game last month. The coach wanted a strike because the batter did not pull the bat back on a bunt attempt. Same coach in another game claimed he could change the batting order if the batters had not come up yet. I make it a point to quietly tell the coach the proper rule. If he becomes a rat, I'm not so quite.

The parents at premier varsity games blather as mindlessly as any youth crowd. And I can assert that there is an occasional coach who is as lacking in knowledge as possible and still be allowed to coach kids.

Another recent encounter:

Coach: "I played pro ball for 12 years for four different organizations, and I have never seen that call."
Me: "That's great. How much experience do you have with high school?"

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Coach: "I played pro ball for 12 years for four different organizations, and I have never seen that call."
Me: "That's great. How much experience do you have with high school?"

Judging from some of the people I interview lately, he may have said he had twelve years of playing HS too.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by RogersUmp

I was trying to think where a myth like this would originate? Who thought this one up? ...

RogersUmp,

I do not know the origin of this myth, but perhaps its from:

Originally Posted by Laws of Cricket

8. Contact with the ball
In these Laws,
(a) reference to the bat shall imply that the bat is held in the batsman’s hand or a glove worn on his hand, unless stated otherwise.

(b) contact between the ball and
either (i) the bat itself
or (ii) the batsman’s hand holding the bat
or (iii) any part of a glove worn on the batsman’s hand holding the bat
or (iv) any additional materials permitted under 3, 5 or 6
shall be regarded as the ball striking or touching the bat, or being struck by the bat.

Law 6 (The bat) - Laws - Laws of Cricket - Laws & Spirit - Lord's

JM