Batter throws bat

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by scrounge

I'm struggling to envision how you could even do this and hit the catcher, but it seems that if done, it very easily could be done in a careless manner. I guess depending on where the catcher was it could be a legitimate and legal attempt to hit. Somewhat HTBT. But if the batter just flings the bat on a prayer and whacks a catcher who's not all that close? Yea, I think it's pretty careless.

You are confusing the simple word careless and the rulebook use of careless.

Let me say it this way. If the batter intentionally throws the bat - we have nothing careless in either direction. And if said bat hits the catcher, you'd better be calling either interference on the batter (for throwing the bat intentionally and interfering with a play) or obstruction on the catcher (for getting in the way of an attempt to hit the ball). If the bat-throw is intentional --- you'd better have one or the other.

Careless, in the rulebook, it intended to include cases where the batter unintentionally or negligently let the bat go.