What's the Call?

[scottk_61]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

but I think I'd have unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing the bat. The batter would be ejected and I'd be looking for a sub. If no sub is available then we have another ruling to make.

I had this scenario given to me when I qualified for ISF.
If the bat hits the ball and the player is in the box (both feet) then you have a fair batted ball.
I can't remember which NCAA team it was that was doing this in a bunt situation and it was legal then.
Now, I haven't worked games in a few years but I don't know of any rule change that would address this.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Highly unsafe? Probably less unsafe than a regular base hit... who in the world is the batter going to hurt throwing his bat toward a pitch so bad he couldn't hit it otherwise? And the ball's not going to come off very hard. Why in the world would you consider this unsafe.

Let me take it a step further and remove the opinion out of it... don't you believe that if TPTB wanted such an action to be against the rules or considered it unsafe (especially considering some of the other safety rules out there), that TPTB would have put a prohibition of this action in the rulebook? What do you read from them not doing so?

Hey, ease up off the recent SP-to-FP convert here.

Again, I've not seen it happen, and maybe what I have pictured in my mind is not exactly how it'd go down. What I'm picturing is a pitch-out striking the bat in mid-air, causing it to tumble around, probably in the catcher's direction.

I'd have to see it with my own eyes.

[pob14]

I know, it's not a baseball board, but I'm surprised nobody's brought up Bill Buckner yet. He used to do this All. The. Time. to protect the runner on a pitchout. He was really good at it, too; the pitchout would be two and a half feet outside, he'd throw the bat at it, and hit the damn thing. Too bad he couldn't hit normal pitches that well . . .

Anyway, for those who've never seen it, it's not all that uncommon in my opinion.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by pob14

I know, it's not a baseball board, but I'm surprised nobody's brought up Bill Buckner yet. He used to do this All. The. Time. to protect the runner on a pitchout. He was really good at it, too; the pitchout would be two and a half feet outside, he'd throw the bat at it, and hit the damn thing. Too bad he couldn't hit normal pitches that well . . .

Buckner played 22 seasons and amassed a .289 batting average, led the league in B.A. one year and hit nearly 500 doubles. It think that he could hit the normal pitches fairly well.

It was his fielding for which Billy Bucks will be forever remembered!

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

There is just something that doesn't seem right about this.
Couldn't this be considered Illegal Use of Equipment?
(Where ever Illegal Use of Equipment is defined...)

How about this definition:
BLOCKED BALL: A batted, pitched or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches loose equipment or any object that is not part of the official equipment or official playing area.

But then contradicted here:
EQUIPMENT ON THE PLAYING FIELD.
Loose equipment, miscellaneous items or a detached part of a player’s uniform, other than that being legally used in the game at the time, should not be within live ball territory. Official equipment which may be in live ball territory with no penalty includes the batter’s bat, the catcher’s mask, umpire paraphernalia, a helmet which has inadvertently fallen off an offensive or defensive player during play or any equipment belonging to a person assigned to the game. Loose equipment, miscellaneous items or detached uniform parts which are in live ball territory and are not being legally used in the game at the time could cause a blocked ball or interference.

And:
SPORTING BEHAVIOR
The values of softball competition are based on good sporting behavior and
fair play. The following are examples, although not limited to, of unsporting
behavior:
A. Uniforms not worn properly, such as jerseys not tucked in, sleeves rolled
under, and caps worn backwards.
B. Exposed undergarments of different colors worn by different teammates
on the same team.
C. Coaching tactics that endanger the safety of players.
D. After equipment check, illegal equipment being put back into play.
E. Use of equipment for other than its intended design.

WHY THEN is a defender penalized, but not an offensive player?
When a fielder intentionally contacts or catches a fair batted, a thrown, or a pitched ball with any part of the uniform or equipment that is detached from its proper place.
EFFECT: Delayed Dead Ball and the batter and runners are entitled to:
1. three bases from the time of the pitch if a batted ball,
2. two bases from the time of the throw if a thrown ball,
3. one base from the time of the pitch if a pitched ball

Just askin'.

Just answerin...

Tony

Don't try so hard.....

Maybe if you thought about it this way......
Isn't it to the pitchers job to pitch the ball TO THE BATTER?
Isn't it then a batter's job to attempt put the BALL IN PLAY?

Now the batter can't step out of the box to hit the ball, but if she is reaching and the ball is just out of reach (or she looses the bat) and the bat strikes the pitch, what's the problem?
Play the ball fair or foul...

Pitch -> Ball ->Bat

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by BretMan

(snip)

It was his fielding for which Billy Bucks will be forever remembered!

and high top cleats

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Tony
Don't try so hard.....

What? And ruin all the fun?

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Buckner played 22 seasons and amassed a .289 batting average, led the league in B.A. one year and hit nearly 500 doubles. It think that he could hit the normal pitches fairly well.

It was his fielding for which Billy Bucks will be forever remembered!

Buckner played 22 seasons and amassed a .991 fielding percentage. One error in every 101 (approximate) opportunites is a pretty respectable fielding stat.

It was THE ONE ERROR for which he will be forever remembered.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Buckner played 22 seasons and amassed a .991 fielding percentage. One error in every 101 (approximate) opportunites is a pretty respectable fielding stat.

It was THE ONE ERROR for which he will be forever remembered.

Timing is everything.

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Again, I've not seen it happen, and maybe what I have pictured in my mind is not exactly how it'd go down. What I'm picturing is a pitch-out striking the bat in mid-air, causing it to tumble around, probably in the catcher's direction.

Do keep in mind: 6 oz ball, 20+ oz bat. Yes, the ball is travelling fast, but it has 1/3 to 1/4 the mass. Tumble maybe, spin, not so much.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Timing is everything.

Just to be fair...

Originally Posted by wikipedia

In September 1986, Buckner hit .340 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs, while missing just three games in spite of chronic ankle soreness. Stapleton began seeing more playing time as a late inning defensive replacement for Buckner in September and October. Buckner, meanwhile, became the first major league player to wear Nike high-top baseball cleats professionally in an effort to relieve pressure from his ankles....When the Sox scored two runs in the top of the tenth, Boston manager John McNamara chose to have Buckner take the field in the bottom of the inning instead of bringing Stapleton in as a defensive replacement for the ailing Buckner as he had in games one, two and five.

Buckner was injured, and been playing through the injury, but was a known defensive liability due to the injury. The real blame belongs with the manager, John McNamara, for leaving a defensive liability (due to injury) in the game in the bottom of the 10th after his team had the lead.

[jr131981]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Buckner played 22 seasons and amassed a .991 fielding percentage. One error in every 101 (approximate) opportunites is a pretty respectable fielding stat.

It was THE ONE ERROR for which he will be forever remembered.

.991 FP for a 1B is well below average. this year, there are 23 qualified 1B, the lowest has a .990 FP

pulling up a random buckner year, in 86 he was 13/16 qualified 1B in FP.

people forget there was a good chance mookie beats out the play at first even with a clean catch by buckner.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Just to be fair...

Buckner was injured, and been playing through the injury, but was a known defensive liability due to the injury. The real blame belongs with the manager, John McNamara, for leaving a defensive liability (due to injury) in the game in the bottom of the 10th after his team had the lead.

Wait...
Did you just QUOTE Wikipedia as a legitimate source of information?

Tom, I had higher hopes that you were smarter than that.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by SRW

Wait...
Did you just QUOTE Wikipedia as a legitimate source of information?

Tom, I had higher hopes that you were smarter than that.

Well, it's an easy source of info, and disclosure of the source was provided. Anyone is free to search through the near-infinite sources of baseball stats and folklore if they wish!

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Hey, ease up off the recent SP-to-FP convert here.

Sorry bout that!!