PU-Throwing Ball Back to Pitcher-Let the Players Play the Game

[JPaco54]

I have read posts before on PU throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Most PU's stated it helps speed up the game and keeps a flow to the game. Whether it does or doesn't depends on one's view point. I don’t think it does and if you think it does, it doesn’t generate much in saving time, etc. I tried it a few times and after that felt it best to leave it up to the catcher to throw the ball back. This is a pet peeve of mine and can not figure out why some umps insist on performing this act. I have witnessed in more than one situation where the PU beaned the pitcher, either by an errant throw by the ump or the pitcher not watching the ump. Why risk this? This past weekend, LL games, I saw some umps take two or three steps towards the pitcher, perform a crow hop and then gently tossed the ball to the pitcher. These guys looked ridiculous. Why risk embarrassing yourself, or risk a liability suit if you bean the kid and cause injury. Saw ML Ump throw the ball back to the pitcher while the F2 was still chasing down the live ball at the back stop on a dropped third strike. Now what? Just give the ball to the catcher and let him toss it back. That is why the catcher is there. I have witnessed umps, at all levels, fire the ball back to the pitcher, almost like a moment of going back in time, "Look at me I can still throw, yea I used to be a catcher or player, etc". What's the point here? What is that all about? That's not your job! Just give it to the catcher, take a breather, put your mask on and get ready for the next pitch. We talk about wannabe's in coaches and fans, I believe there are some of us wannabe's still trying to prove that we are just not umps but X players as well. Also, why risk injury? All it takes is one throw and you pull a muscle, tear a tendon and no more calling balls and strikes for awhile, unless you load up on pain meds. I think some umps need to "Just Get Over It!" and leave the ball playing to the ball players. In summary:
1. Why take the chance of a Liability Suit, injury to the pitcher... we all enjoy the game too much.
2. Embarrassement over missing the target - under or over throw.
3. Risk to injuring yourself.
4. Let the players play the game.

There I feel better!

[Rich Ives]

In the LL games on TV the umpire throws the new ball to the pitcher while the catcher retrieves the old ball. It does speed things up and the players know what to expect.

Otherwise - who cares?

[Paul L]

It's fun. Only during dead ball, and I make sure pitcher is looking at me before I throw one in the air. If not, I'll throw a one-hopper, especially if the catcher is not paying attention. Then pitcher can be getting ready along with catcher.

This doesn't seem worthy of a pet peeve. Perhaps you have unresolved issues from your childhood.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It's fun. Only during dead ball, and I make sure pitcher is looking at me before I throw one in the air. If not, I'll throw a one-hopper, especially if the catcher is not paying attention. Then pitcher can be getting ready along with catcher.

This doesn't seem worthy of a pet peeve. Perhaps you have unresolved issues from your childhood.

I would hope you are only throwing a ball out when one is not in play, and you probably should not be throwing a ball in the dirt whether on purpose or accident.

Not only does it look very bad to do that, it looks even worse when it gets by the pitcher.

[MrUmpire]

Done appropriately, that is when the catcher is otherwise occupied, it does speed up the game. When the catcher is not busy, I hand the new ball to him.

If you can't throw a ball 60 feet, then don't try.

[RPatrino]

It most cases it does no harm to throw the pitcher a new ball while the catcher is running to the fence to retrieve an errant throw. For foul balls back to the fence, we let the on deck hitters get those. I have seen guys underhand balls to the pitcher if they can't throw them overhand. This is something I go over when I speak to the catcher/pitcher when they are warming up before the first pitch, so the pitcher knows to pay attention if his catcher is running down a ball.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by JPaco54

2. Embarrassement over missing the target - under or over throw.

Forget the other reasons -- this is why I don't throw it to them. I could probably get it to the pitcher most of the time, but it's the times I miss the target that I don't want to deal with. At this point, the game surely isn't going any faster.

In the high school baseball games here, we rely on the on-deck batter to get foul balls that catchers would normally retrieve. I tell the catchers during the 1st inning that they don't get foul balls - they get a ball from me. By the time the ball's to the pitcher, the on-deck batter's shagged the previous ball and either given it back to me, or kept it with him to give to me when he comes up to bat.

At my local park, the fences are only 10 feet behind the plate, so the catcher usually gets it before I can think about getting a new one. Of course, most of the ones fouled back land back in front of the plate anyway.

[briancurtin]

I think we've covered this a number of times in the last few months, but I will only throw the ball back if the catcher is busy with something else. If he takes a hard foul ball that glances away, I'll step out and throw a ball out, brush off the plate, and let him get a breather.

Where possible, I let the catcher throw it, and I try to have a fresh one ready before he even gets his hand or glove up.

[johnnyg08]

Jpaco...if you want the catchers to throw the ball back, then do it that way. There are far more things to focus on to become a better umpire and you seem pretty passionate about your reasons. Go with it!

[constable]

Originally Posted by JPaco54

I have read posts before on PU throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Most PU's stated it helps speed up the game and keeps a flow to the game. Whether it does or doesn't depends on one's view point. I don’t think it does and if you think it does, it doesn’t generate much in saving time, etc. I tried it a few times and after that felt it best to leave it up to the catcher to throw the ball back. This is a pet peeve of mine and can not figure out why some umps insist on performing this act. I have witnessed in more than one situation where the PU beaned the pitcher, either by an errant throw by the ump or the pitcher not watching the ump. Why risk this? This past weekend, LL games, I saw some umps take two or three steps towards the pitcher, perform a crow hop and then gently tossed the ball to the pitcher. These guys looked ridiculous. Why risk embarrassing yourself, or risk a liability suit if you bean the kid and cause injury. Saw ML Ump throw the ball back to the pitcher while the F2 was still chasing down the live ball at the back stop on a dropped third strike. Now what? Just give the ball to the catcher and let him toss it back. That is why the catcher is there. I have witnessed umps, at all levels, fire the ball back to the pitcher, almost like a moment of going back in time, "Look at me I can still throw, yea I used to be a catcher or player, etc". What's the point here? What is that all about? That's not your job! Just give it to the catcher, take a breather, put your mask on and get ready for the next pitch. We talk about wannabe's in coaches and fans, I believe there are some of us wannabe's still trying to prove that we are just not umps but X players as well. Also, why risk injury? All it takes is one throw and you pull a muscle, tear a tendon and no more calling balls and strikes for awhile, unless you load up on pain meds. I think some umps need to "Just Get Over It!" and leave the ball playing to the ball players. In summary:
1. Why take the chance of a Liability Suit, injury to the pitcher... we all enjoy the game too much.
2. Embarrassement over missing the target - under or over throw.
3. Risk to injuring yourself.
4. Let the players play the game.

There I feel better!

One of the parts of your job is to keep the game moving.

There is nothing wrong with the umpire throwing the ball back, provided they can make a decent throw.

Also, you need to change states if you think you're at risk of liability for that.

As long as you're acting in good faith and aren't being negligent ( throwing a 94mph and hitting the pitcher in the head ala david wright would be negligent) than you're covered.

[GerryB]

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!

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by GerryB

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).

Could you provide the name of the pitcher or umpire or team, approximate date and jurisdiction, please.

An exhaustive search for "umpire liability" lawsuits conducted last year did not reveal this one.

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by GerryB

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!

Your colleague had a $hitty lawyer.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

If the PU wants to throw the ball back to the F1, then he can if he wants, but I do not even throw the ball back to the F1 in a girls' H.S. fastpitch softball game for fear of having the ball take two or three bounces before it gets to the circle. Throwing the ball back to the F1 is just one of the duties of the F2.

MTD, Sr.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by JPaco54

I have read posts before on PU throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Most PU's stated it helps speed up the game and keeps a flow to the game. Whether it does or doesn't depends on one's view point. I don’t think it does and if you think it does, it doesn’t generate much in saving time, etc. I tried it a few times and after that felt it best to leave it up to the catcher to throw the ball back. This is a pet peeve of mine and can not figure out why some umps insist on performing this act. I have witnessed in more than one situation where the PU beaned the pitcher, either by an errant throw by the ump or the pitcher not watching the ump. Why risk this? This past weekend, LL games, I saw some umps take two or three steps towards the pitcher, perform a crow hop and then gently tossed the ball to the pitcher. These guys looked ridiculous. Why risk embarrassing yourself, or risk a liability suit if you bean the kid and cause injury. Saw ML Ump throw the ball back to the pitcher while the F2 was still chasing down the live ball at the back stop on a dropped third strike. Now what? Just give the ball to the catcher and let him toss it back. That is why the catcher is there. I have witnessed umps, at all levels, fire the ball back to the pitcher, almost like a moment of going back in time, "Look at me I can still throw, yea I used to be a catcher or player, etc". What's the point here? What is that all about? That's not your job! Just give it to the catcher, take a breather, put your mask on and get ready for the next pitch. We talk about wannabe's in coaches and fans, I believe there are some of us wannabe's still trying to prove that we are just not umps but X players as well. Also, why risk injury? All it takes is one throw and you pull a muscle, tear a tendon and no more calling balls and strikes for awhile, unless you load up on pain meds. I think some umps need to "Just Get Over It!" and leave the ball playing to the ball players. In summary:
1. Why take the chance of a Liability Suit, injury to the pitcher... we all enjoy the game too much.
2. Embarrassement over missing the target - under or over throw.
3. Risk to injuring yourself.
4. Let the players play the game.

There I feel better!

YAWN!
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!