Throwing an elbow is NOT protecting yourself. If a player did what the umpire did, he'd be flagged. I worked umpire in varsity games,and was run into numerous times. I would turn my body so that I didn't get the full force of the blow, and put my arms out in front to absorb the hit. But I NEVER made an offense move at the runner.

Bob

We'll never know
 

Perhaps his agent is negotiating a product endorsement deal with a beer company.

When did it become a foul for a player to hit a runner in the torso with his arm and knock him to the ground?