Baseball question from a football/basketball ref.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by stir22

Hello, my baseball brethren!!!

Was at the ballpark last night watching my local minor league baseball team. Here's the scenario- Home up 4-0, 7th inning, very smooth game. Home team starting pitcher was pitching a masterful game, one hitter at that point. Anyway, one of his pitches got away from him, and went a few inches behind the batter. Clearly did not hit the batter- nothing untoward had happened in the game. The homeplate ump awarded the batter first base. The batter actually argued just a bit, saying the pitch didn't hit him, and he want to stay in the box. The ump insisted he take first base. My question is, is first base awarded automatically for pitches that go behind the batter, regardless of the scenario?

Thanks!!!

No.

The umpire must have judged it hit him (or it was ball 4).

[stir22]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

No.

The umpire must have judged it hit him (or it was ball 4).

Many thanks!!!

[MrUmpire]

It is not uncommon for a pitch to barely touch the uniform and the batter not feel it or wishes to get a chance to swing the bat. Any touch of the person or uniform is a HBP.

[gordon30307]

I was doing some college wood bat this summer and the the count was 3 and 0. The batter stepped out of the box and asked me to open up the zone. I said OK. Next pitch was high and I called it a strike. The 3 and 1 pitch was higher and I call ball 4. He looks at me and I tell him sorry no way that I can call that a strike. A first for me a batter complaining about balls.

[RogersUmp]

Gordon, don't tell his coach.

[kylejt]

Here's my question for a basketball ref:

Why do you let coaches yell at you from point blank range? On a baseball field, I'd eject those same coaches within the first few minutes of most basketball games. The first "you" that came flying out of their mouths would get them a trip to the showers, yet BB guys take it all game long.

Why?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Here's my question for a basketball ref:

Why do you let coaches yell at you from point blank range?

It's different in HS and NCAA. For HS, we don't take it: it's a technical foul for the first offense, and ejection for the second.

I don't work NCAA, but I gather that the powers that be want head coaches, especially in televised D1 games, to remain on the floor. So officials have to listen to them. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Here's my question for a basketball ref:

Why do you let coaches yell at you from point blank range? On a baseball field, I'd eject those same coaches within the first few minutes of most basketball games. The first "you" that came flying out of their mouths would get them a trip to the showers, yet BB guys take it all game long.

Why?

Basketball is a much more confined area so the conversations are going to be much closer. Also we can say things to them that we would have to yell at a coach on a baseball field. And if you think basketball officials are just taking crap from coaches, you have not heard enough basketball officials’ stories about coaches. I can tell you these are sometimes much more colorful than I ever hear from baseball umpires. Bottom line this is a different sport with different standards. If you are throwing guys out of every basketball game you will not be around very long. It is really that simple.

Peace

[APG]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Here's my question for a basketball ref:

Why do you let coaches yell at you from point blank range? On a baseball field, I'd eject those same coaches within the first few minutes of most basketball games. The first "you" that came flying out of their mouths would get them a trip to the showers, yet BB guys take it all game long.

Why?

Most of the time, coaches aren't yelling at you point blank. If a coach is truly yelling at you point blank, you're going to be T'd up quick (save for maybe NCAA D-I...HS/Pro allow a lot less crap from their coaches IMO)...which is a tool we have unlike baseball which is all or nothing. And most of the time, coach's aren't getting personal...there are just a lot more plays in a basketball game meaning a lot more plays that are close meaning more questions.