Ump Intentially Hit By Pitch?

[GoodScout]

This play took place during the GHSA championship game over the weekend. Stephens County is pitching to Cartersville, that went on to win the game and the title 13-1.
http://www.workhorsevideoproductions...he%20pitch.mpg

Crew didn't respond with any ejections, as it couldn't ascertain that the action was intentional, but GHSA is waiting for the school's investigation to be complete before it decides if further action is needed.
http://www.ajc.com/highschool/conten...ge_tab_newstab

Question is, was the action intentional? If so, what should be the penalty?

[mbyron]

If intentional, eject those involved. Whether it's intentional: HTBT.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I can't get the video to open, but I will give my opinion of what to do if a pitch and catcher conspire to hit the PU with a pitch.

1) The PU will know that he was intentionally hit. How? The team will have been complaining about his balls and strike calling. The complaining will start early in the game; it will be by the team's batters, pitcher, catcher, and coaches.

2) After the PU has told everybody concerned to knock off the nonsense, the team will find small but detectable ways to show their displeasure at the PU's strike zone.

3) Finally, the catcher will set up way outside the pitch will come straight down the middle; the catcher will make no effort to catcht the pitch; and the PU will be hit by the pitch square in the middle of the chest.

4) When that happens, the pitcher, catcher, and head coach are gone.

MTD, Sr.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by GoodScout

Question is, was the action intentional? If so, what should be the penalty?

That's the way I'd call it. Catcher starts to put glove up, pulls it down and ducks.

F1, F2, HC would be done for the day.

[d26]

The vid, IMHO, shows a FU pitch based on C's actions in frame by frame mode.

[dash_riprock]

Dump the battery, the HC, anyone who laughs, ban them all for life, and pull the baseball program for a year at least.

[RKBUmp]

That was intentional. The catcher pretended to be blocking a pitch in the dirt, but the pitch started out high and never dropped. Even the best breaking ball doesnt drop that much.

I saw something similar in a softball game. Coach had been on umps all night about every single call. They finally told him one more word and he was gone. Next batter, inside pitch, catcher leans way to the side, lets ball go by, but it missed the ump. Ump went and got the UIC and asked that he watched the rest of the game because he expected more trouble. Later that night I was talking with UIC and he asked my opinion if it was intentional or not. I told him that in my opinion it most certainly was, catcher made blatant attempt to move to let ball pass.

[waltjp]

Definitely intentional. For those that didn't see the video, the catcher starts to drop to his knees as if blocking a pitch in the dirt just after the pitcher releases the ball.

Catcher, gone! Pitcher, gone! If the manager or anyone else makes a peep, gone!

[MajorDave]

About it! Wow, if anyone knows this crew please get the real story from them whenever you can and post it without naming names or name names, we all want to know what the heck went on.

[Blue37]

The article said it was a fastball, but, watching the pitcher's arm motion, I thought it was a breaking ball that did not break. If it was a fastball, it was pretty weak for a state final, or even an average high school pitcher. I do think it was intentional, based on the catcher's actions. His drop was too exagerated.

[jdmara]

wow...that's about all I can say...

-Josh

[TussAgee11]

Arm motion looked like a curve ball to me... but I'd say 80% intentional.

If I were PU, I'd probably talk to the crew before ejecting to make sure I was right. Not the most blatant instance of a catcher letting one back on the umpire, but a pretty good one.

[johnnyg08]

the catcher was blocking the pitch before it was even released...100% intentional...I'm dumping the battery...

[johnnyg08]

then you'll probably have to dump the head coach as well after he comes unglued for trying to lie for his players.

[Klokard]

I have heard many a story about this but have never had it happen to me (yet :0) It sure appears obvious intent but I was not there. I don't know if I would dump any body based on what I see in the vid but I do know one thing, the strike zone just got smaller (or larger) for the team in question!!! No place for that at any level.