Plate Ump hit by pitch on purpose

[Blu_IN]

If you aren't going to eject someone for that, what will you eject someone for? Geez. How you let them continue to play in that game is beyond my comprehension.

Blu

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Blu_IN

How you let them continue to play in that game is beyond my comprehension.

Let me preface by saying that I'm the guy in our association known for being quick to eject. (I don't have a problem with it, I think everyone else is too slow.)

That being said, I had this happen to my partner in a baseball game several years back. We both "knew" it happened... the next pitch after some whining, the catcher's glove was up almost in front of umpire's face and then jerked down at the last minute.

When the ball hit the umpire, the pitcher and catcher laughed. After the PU caught his breath, he and I discussed that we "knew" it was intentional but had no way to prove it. I suspect that in the situation noted in this article, there were other things that occured to allow it to be proven, like the pitcher/catcher bragging about it afterwards.

[RANT ON]

I do not disagree with your implication that there are many umpires too slow to eject. At least in my organization, I believe the bar is set to low for what we allow from players and coaches. My belief is that there is a natural tendency to push the envelope and if the bar is low, it will be pushed further. If sportmanship is not enforced, we cannot expect it to be followed.

It irks me when I hear one of our local umps brag about, "I haven't ejected a player in x number of years". Just the fact they are keeping track and bragging suggests they have been trying to avoid ejections when an ejection was probably warranted.

I see it no different than saying, "I haven't called a foul ball in 13 games. Yeah, there are a couple of balls that should have been foul, but I didn't want to slow the game down so I didn't call them." USC is USC. An umpire should deal with it and issue the proper penalties.

Back to this particular incident, if the school found and/or athletic league found after-the-fact evidence that this happened and only suspended for two innings, I think it is a shame. If the parents also learned of this and accepted this two inning suspension as sufficient for their children, I also think that is a shame. I'm not "old skool" like, take the kid to the wood shed for a beatin'... but I am "old skool" like help the kid show some penitence. A face to face apology to the umpire might be a good start.

[RANT OFF]... for now.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Has anyone considered the possibility that the umpire who was hit did not believe it was intentional?

There is no mention of a report from the officials, and it seems the only witness talking was the opposing coach who may have an alternative motive for his rant.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Has anyone considered the possibility that the umpire who was hit did not believe it was intentional?

There is no mention of a report from the officials, and it seems the only witness talking was the opposing coach who may have an alternative motive for his rant.

Mike,
Since the suspension was based on an ivestigation by their state association, there must have been more to support it than just a disgruntled coach's claim.
Charlie

Originally Posted by indystar.com

Based on his investigation, Robison concluded that the coach and players had violated the school's athletic handbook

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Mike,
Since the suspension was based on an ivestigation by their state association, there must have been more to support it than just a disgruntled coach's claim.
Charlie

Maybe so, but I'm referring to those questioning why the participants were not ejected by the umpire.


Could it be that the umpire may be a weak on the authoritive side? Maybe, but none of us were there and don't know that. There was no indication that the "investigation" included what the umpire thought at the time of the incident. For as much as we KNOW, the umpire may not have even submitted a report on the issue.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Maybe so, but I'm referring to those questioning why the participants were not ejected by the umpire.


Could it be that the umpire may be a weak on the authoritive side? Maybe, but none of us were there and don't know that. There was no indication that the "investigation" included what the umpire thought at the time of the incident. For as much as we KNOW, the umpire may not have even submitted a report on the issue.

I can't imagine that the state association would investigate and not speak to the umpires but it is possible. My point is that the investigation must have determined some kind of intent by F1, and F2 in order to mete out punishment. BTW I can be weak on the authoritative side also, (just ask my assistant )

Maybe the BU not calling anything gives credence to your point. He should have seen the pitch arrive at home. If nothing looked fishy to him, why call anything?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I can't imagine that the state association would investigate and not speak to the umpires but it is possible.

Are you sure?

[UmpireErnie]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I can't imagine that the state association would investigate and not speak to the umpires but it is possible.

I can imagine it. A few years ago working a men’s SP game I called a ball hit deep down 1B line fair. At the completion of play the outfielder comes running in going bezerkers.. I figured out between explicatives, F-bombs, and colorful comments regarding my habits and ancestry that this gentleman (I use the term very loosely here) disagreed with my judgment and believed the ball was foul.

I thanked him for his comments and bid him a pleasant evening. Unfortunately, after the ejection I learned that his team had no subs. So I bid everyone a pleasant evening as the ball game was now over. I turned and started walking off the field when a softball whistled past my head and hit the fence right next to me. Yes, our subject gentleman outfielder had retrieved the ball and hurled it at the back of my head, thank goodness without great accuracy. I turned to find him charging at me full speed. Fortunately two players from the other team (who’s dugout I was exiting through) stepped in his path. I turned and walked out as there was no reason to stay.

My partner and I both went to his car and sat down and wrote up reports to the league. Incredibly I was never called by the league. I don’t to this day know what happened to the player.

[BlitzkriegBob]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Mike,
Since the suspension was based on an ivestigation by their state association, there must have been more to support it than just a disgruntled coach's claim.
Charlie

Actually, the investigation was done by Tim Robison, the AD of the offending team. A little further down in the article you can read...

"Because the umpires did not eject anyone, it's up to the school administrators to decide what action to take," said Searcy, who oversees softball for the IHSAA.

And Mike is probably right (as usual) about the umpire possibly not even submitting a report about the incident. I umpire IHSAA and we are only required to submit an Unsportsmanlike Conduct Report of explanation concerning:

1. Any student-athlete or coach who is ejected from the contest and the reason.

2. Any coach who displays unsportsmanlike conduct requiring the assessment of a penalty.

I'll probably get to see Julie Johnson sometime this summer and I hope I remember to ask her about this incident.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by BlitzkriegBob

Actually, the investigation was done by Tim Robison, the AD of the offending team. A little further down in the article you can read...

"Because the umpires did not eject anyone, it's up to the school administrators to decide what action to take," said Searcy, who oversees softball for the IHSAA.

And Mike is probably right (as usual) about the umpire possibly not even submitting a report about the incident. I umpire IHSAA and we are only required to submit an Unsportsmanlike Conduct Report of explanation concerning:

1. Any student-athlete or coach who is ejected from the contest and the reason.

2. Any coach who displays unsportsmanlike conduct requiring the assessment of a penalty.

I'll probably get to see Julie Johnson sometime this summer and I hope I remember to ask her about this incident.

I'm neither jumping on Mike nor disagreeing with him. I think we both would agee that there is more here than meets the eye (or the OP link)
If you do get more info on the incident, I would like to know the particulars, especially the rationale in meting out the punishment because 2 innings (IMHO) seems a bit lax for something like this in which an AD found player culpability.

Mike,
If you felt like I was jumping on you I am sorry for giving that impression. I was just discussing the topic with you. If I led others to believe that I was jumping on you, I am sorry for that as well.
Charlie

[BlitzkriegBob]

Charlie,

I wasn't implying that you were jumping on Mike. I should apologize for making you feel as though you needed to apologize. I'm truly sorry for my poorly worded post!!

And yes, I definitely believe there is more to this story than was reported. I work in the Fort Wayne area so I never see any Indy area schools unless they happen to come up here for a tournament. Therefore I don't know anything about Indian Creek.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by BlitzkriegBob

Charlie,

I wasn't implying that you were jumping on Mike. I should apologize for making you feel as though you needed to apologize. I'm truly sorry for my poorly worded post!!

And yes, I definitely believe there is more to this story than was reported. I work in the Fort Wayne area so I never see any Indy area schools unless they happen to come up here for a tournament. Therefore I don't know anything about Indian Creek.

Bob

No problem. I am around cynical people a lot. Sometimes I just forget to take the filters off.
Charlie

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Mike,
If you felt like I was jumping on you I am sorry for giving that impression. I was just discussing the topic with you. If I led others to believe that I was jumping on you, I am sorry for that as well.
Charlie

Your apology is unnecessary. I am simply trying to point out to those who questioned the umpire's lack of action on the spot that maybe the umpire did not feel it was intentional. After all, he was there, we were not.