Plate Ump hit by pitch on purpose

[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.