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Thank you for allowing me to waste 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back! My God! We have a lot more important things to worry about on the field than this gobbily-goop! There! Now I feel better! |
Ozzy ... :D
Ahem ... It is in the umpire's job description to get a ball to the pitcher as soon as possible. If throwing it himself can accomplish this, and he's willing and capable, he can and should do it if he's so inclined. And the liability question could possibly be a concern with a Little Leaguer with a lawyer dad, but come on ... a geezer throwing a ball to an accomplished athlete is not dangerous. If you can throw a ball 60 feet with 99 percent accuracy, and look like a non-girl when you do it, then throw the ball back to save time if you want to. If you throw like a girl, or you make the pitcher reach too much, give it to the catcher. No big deal. |
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9.00—The Umpire. 9.04 (a) The umpire-in-chief shall stand behind the catcher. (He usually is called the plate umpire.) His duties shall be to: (1) Take full charge of, and be responsible for, the proper conduct of the game; (1a) The plate umpire is responsible to get a ball to the pitcher as soon as possible (2) Call and count balls and strike; (3) Call and declare fair balls and fouls except those commonly called by field umpires; (4) Make all decisions on the batter; (5) Make all decisions except those commonly reserved for the field umpires; (6) Decide when a game shall be forfeited; (7) If a time limit has been set, announce the fact and the time set before the game starts; (8) Inform the official scorer of the official batting order, and any changes in the lineups and batting order, on request; (9) Announce any special ground rules, at his discretion. |
Actually, you are not even throwing the ball 60 ft. most times. The pitcher usually comes half way to the plate to recieve my throws, after I uncork a few...those knuckleballs are unpredictable.
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OBR - Rule 9.04 (a) 1(a) -Missing From Rule Book
Is the rule you quoted part of the LL rules...Cause I missed it somewhere...In the copy of the rule book I have, OBR 2008 edition, Rule 9.04 (a) 1(a) must have been left out...or maybe there is an updated version....:o
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I'm in agreement with most here. I can throw back and will when F2 is busy.
However I don't do it all the time, by choice, because a) a colleague broke the nose of an F1; was sued for $2m, insurance settled for 800 large. Maybe I am covered, but that is at the minimum a hassle I want to avoid (experienced PU to DII pitcher, yup it happens). b) coaches yell at F2 when he throws a bad one; on occasion I have thrown a bad one, they yell at me too. Don't want to give them that chance. On the other hand another PU colleague who had pitched in MiLB threw them back at (adult) pitchers who complained about balls & strikes. Threw it hard at their feet to make 'em dance! |
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An exhaustive search for "umpire liability" lawsuits conducted last year did not reveal this one. |
Hmmm,
I have not thrown a ball back to F1 since August 8, 1981.
I was told by two MLB catchers that they (and all other catchers they knew) want to throw the ball back. Both catchers noted that in the "olden days" umpires were supposed to 'prove' they were athletic enough to be on the field. Since the early 1980s umpires are not required by MLB to throw the ball back (as an aside at umpire school in the 1970s not only were umpires required to throw the ball back to the pitcher they were also required to throw the ball right handed ONLY). Quote:
I too would like a little more information since I have three articles due for High School Today that deal with official/participant safety. |
Thanks Tim for some of the background info. I have learned over the years that baseball has a long historial life to it that continues to evolve and there is usually a reason or explanation to the rules and traditions to the game. Appreciate the info.
Still can not find Rule 9.04(a) 1(a) OBR...lq |
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Yu veery funny!!!!! |
Clearly, there are two schools of thought on this issue. In one case, I have been told that under no circumstances are we to throw a ball back to the pitcher, and when I work in that environment, thats what I do. I also was dinged on an evaluation for NOT throwing a ball to the pitcher while the F2 was waddling back to the backstop to pick up a throw. Their comment was , " why just stand there with your finger in your ...??". The first comment was for youth ball and the second was for HS. Your mileage may vary.
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Then, to address the original topic, I wrote what I wrote. Sorry the term "Job description" was too literal for you, and sorry that it seemed that I was in conflict with Ozzy. SHEESH! |
I was told the story in 2000. Not sure how much before that it occurred.
And, I don't feel the liberty to go with names. Sorry. |
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