I always make those types of distinctions. Context matters.

That's funny to me as the catcher is the one I'm least likely to eject. He throws his mask immediately and away from the umpire in a way that says to me "I'm frustrated with myself." The pitcher on the other hand turns to the umpire and throws his glove down in the umpires direction which to me is challenging the umpire.

If I'm only dumping one, it's the pitcher.

I was going to ask about that since I'm not a baseball official. Does it matter to anybody that the catcher was walking away from the plate and the umpire when his helmet hits the ground? The pitcher, however, took a couple small steps towards the umpire as he threw his glove and also appeared to be staring him down a bit.

He's certainly not frustrated w/ himself. F2 thinks that the umpire missed the call.

Yes

Is there any video of the play? I haven't had the chance to see it.

Post #19

D'oh...thanks.

NCAA baseball guys.....
IYO, based on what happened on this play; any chance of the Baseball Rules Committee adding something to the rules for 2014 regarding the throwing of equipment by a player? Something short of an EJ, along the lines of what MLB has in their rules (without the fine obviously)?

Yup - already mentioned it on page 3 of the thread

Eastshire: good point - I guess both would go then ;)

I do not think that the rules committee will add anything nor do I think they need to. The NCAA has already made it clear that we are to issue warnings when possible. There is a video of the play that I saw linked on Facebook where you can hear Joe's audio. He immediately warns the players when the pitcher throws his glove and the HC steps in immediately to protect his guys. Did anyone notice who worked the plate in the championship game?

I have no doubt that the coach ran to the PU ump immediately to misdirect the PU attention from his players onto himself (ie protect his players). And I have no doubt he would have preferred to be ejected for arguing than his starting pitcher and catcher. As it turned out the whole situation was expertly handled for a game of this magnitude on this stage and no one was ejected.

I do wonder about this one.

(I'm sorry. I accidentally edited UES's post instead of quoting it -- clearly, I hit the wrong button. Just wanted you to know this was me, not him, and I apologies to UES for being so sloppy. --Rich)

I actually witnessed this one this year in the post-season. The PU issued a warning to the kid and no one ever said a word. The game went on like nothing ever happened and nothing ever escalated. Right or wrong, this time it worked for this umpire. There are lots of ways to cross the finish line, some better than others, but addressing an issue and having it not resurface always works. Warning or ejection or both ways to address the issue, pick the one that works for you so that the problem stops.

In NCAA baseball:

I've ejected immediately for that. I've kept guys in the game just so I could screw them later for that. I've told guys "Either that line disappears, or you do" and had them erase it, whereby they stayed in the game, and had them ignore me--or draw it again--and get ejected.

Context.