Advice needed on "Hands part of the bat" myth

[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.