Throwing the ball back

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by SE Minnestoa Re

I see Russell Martin is upset that Laz Diaz wouldn't let him throw the ball back to the pitcher because he was complaining about ball and strikes. And I thought that I had seen it all.

Oh brother. This quite definitely has the feel of a simple misunderstanding.

But, no, according to the author, Diaz might be in for a reprimand.

It was probably nothing to start with.

Rita

[RPatrino]

There is definitely something not being said in this story. One of my favorite sayings regarding dealing with the press is, " they can't use what you don't say against you".

My final answer, 'no comment'.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Throw underhand.............

Then I might as well bowl the ball back to the Pitcher. LOL

MTD, Sr.

[blueump]

The catcher claimed in his interview that throwing the ball back to the pitcher kept his arm loose for attempted steals. (I don't buy it because he has every other pitch he catches to throw back) I think though an manager may have an argument here. He'd get tossed for sure, but I think the umpire was obviously trying to show up the catcher in this case.

There is nothing in the rules that determines who throws the ball back to the pitcher...do you think we may have another rule soon?

[thumpferee]

I'm the umpire here, you haven't earned that right to tell me who's throwing this ball back

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by blueump

The catcher claimed in his interview that throwing the ball back to the pitcher kept his arm loose for attempted steals. (I don't buy it because he has every other pitch he catches to throw back) I think though an manager may have an argument here. He'd get tossed for sure, but I think the umpire was obviously trying to show up the catcher in this case.

There is nothing in the rules that determines who throws the ball back to the pitcher...do you think we may have another rule soon?

Show him up how? Because he decides to throw the ball back after a ball is in the dirt or after a foul ball. Baseball people in general worry waaaaaaayyyyyy tooo much about being shown up. And not only would this not be shown up, no one would have known about it if the catcher did not go to the media and tell what was said or not said.

Peace

[Lancerdad]

I only throw it back to the pitcher for the small diamond LOL! Don't want to look bad by not getting the ball there or overthrowing!

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Then I might as well bowl the ball back to the Pitcher. LOL

MTD, Sr.

Naw, just get one of those bowling ball returns..............

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by Lancerdad

I only throw it back to the pitcher for the small diamond LOL! Don't want to look bad by not getting the ball there or overthrowing!

This is one division I learned you don't want to throw the ball back!

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Naw, just get one of those bowling ball returns..............

Yeh, it's called a catcher

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

Yeh, it's called a catcher

You mean a person who retrieves the ball after it stops rolling?

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

You mean a person who retrieves the ball after it stops rolling?

Yeah, him, or her! You were talking about softball, which I caught regarding throwing it back underhand

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

I don't throw the ball back unless the catcher isn't around, e.g., grabbing his mask after chasing down a foul ball. Unless I'm warmed up that ball is going to end up burning grass or in center field.

With my right arm, my throwing arm, needing post-season surgery according to my orthopedic doctor, there's no way I'm throwing the ball anywhere. I don't need further embarrassment or pain.

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Then I might as well bowl the ball back to the Pitcher. LOL

MTD, Sr.

I developed this habit during little league (7-9 y.o.) games:
During warm-ups between innings, I will stand near a batters box. When the pitch gets by the catcher, I will bounce a spare ball back to pitcher essentially bowling it towards the mound, just hard enough for it to get back to the rubber. Bowling it like this also prevents the catcher from chasing the ball and on his subsequent throw, sending it into the outfield because he thought that the additional twenty feet meant he had to heave it as hard as he could.

Maybe I just don't have patience to wait for the catcher to run after 5 passed balls, and I would spend more time arguing with the coaches about why Jimmy only got two warmup throws in his "one-minute warmup" between innings, so its a nice preventative compromise that keeps things moving.