New ball in play...give it to the catcher or not?
 

Here is a little funny clip that makes me wonder why umpires choose to put a new ball in play by throwing to the pitcher themselves....I've muffed a few throwbacks over the years but never like this one :p
Y! SPORTS

I always hand the ball to F2. I will not throw the ball back to F1.

Ditto. 100% of the time.

I always give it to the F2 even in fast pitch softball games. I don't want to embarrass MTD, Jr., when the ball takes three bounces to get to the F1.

MTD, Sr.

I am back to throwing the ball to F1 myself. My cut fastball is the BOMB! :eek:

Wait a second, I thought junior always took the plate (even for both games of a double header)?

In the majority of cases, I'll hand the ball to F2. The only times I toss or throw the ball to F1 myself are in those rare situations where I'm closer to F1 than the catcher is (F2 chases an out-of-play foul fly to the backstop or somesuch). Happens maybe 1 or 2 times a game at most.

+1. I'll add that on a HR, I'll toss the ball to F1 so that I can get between him and B1. But I only give him a new ball after B1 has crossed the plate.

I always hand the ball to F2. I CAN'T throw the ball back to F1 anymore.

Depends upon the level of ball.

College - Give it to the Catcher - On deck will get the ball.

High School V & JV - Usually throw tor F1 because catcher is shagging the ball. I know, on deck should be getting it, but their asleep most of the time.

Lower Levels, - throw to F1 cause F2 is chasing the ball 99% of the time. You can't stop this cause they've learned from lax umps who only get 2 balls per game and they hold these like gold.

Men's - Throw it back to F1 - I can throw better than these folks even on a bad day. Maybe they might eve learn to throw my "Specific Gravity" ball. Where the ball floats out there, then the "Specific Gravity" takes hold and the ball falls into a black hole.

I thought you threw the rising fastball??;)

throws like an umpire
 

I give it to F2 most of the time. I don't want it to be obvious why I am now an umpire.

On a HR, I walk to the mound and tell the pitcher...'listen meat, forget that pitch, just don't throw it again' :D

Bob, we've got to do a game together. Too bad the assignor can't figure that out!!!!!!:cool:

Tell me about it, she had all friggin season!

ô!ô
 

The last time I threw a ball to F1 was 1981. I was taught my two MLB catchers that: "Tee, it is our job to throw balls to that meathead."

T

A batter asked me last week why I didn't throw the ball to the pitcher. I told him my shoulder was shot from ringing up so many hitters.

Best laugh I've seen from a kid in a while. :D

LOL, that's funny

Thanks
David

I'll toss it if it's a foul ball straight back and the catcher is gathering his helmet and mask, but that's about it. I still have a fairly good arm, but I go with a safe and easy toss in those few cases.

An old partner years ago could, and would fire one back to the pitcher just as hard as the catcher was throwing. Always hit the pitcher right in the chest, too. It was accurate and fast to the point that it became kind of weird.

Is there a possibility that it's the last vestige of still playing the game?

I throw pass balls and wild pitches back. And you'd be surprised how many there were in the district.

Had a catcher wednesday, who is their best pitcher, bounce the first three back to the pitcher. HC comes out and says, "Jack, let the umpire throw"em back".

A pitch before I asked the catcher if he wanted me to throw'em back;)

Wow, a guy that can throw the ball 50 feet with great skill and accuracy....:rolleyes:

I guess he thought the radar gun guy was there scouting him.

Can't recall who was playing, but during an MLB game on ESPN, I saw the PU throw the ball back to F1 all the time, even after F2 raised his hand up in anticipation that the PU would give him the ball. It made me wonder if catchers get irritated when the umpire does this. My guess is that they don't care for it so much.

Cool post.

I never thought much of coaches using a catcher as a pitcher and certainly not in the same game. I just cringe when a catcher for 5 or 6 innings is put in to pitch...

But the "best pitcher" who bounces them back to the pitcher? Wassup with that ?

I'm always amazed at pitchers who could probably stand on home plate and throw the ball consistently over the left field wall but can't get it from the mound to home plate on the fly. Some catchers are more like hockey goalies than baseball players... :rolleyes:

JJ

Agree! His arm was probably shot! From pitching then catching. Coaches just don't get it!

Next rule from NFHS is, the starting pitcher is limited to 7 innings combined as pitcher/catcher.

How about putting on a coaches safety clinic and make coaches and AD's attend?! Oh yeh, they do! A lot of good that does! One day a year!

And yet our youth suffer!