Moving the bat

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by Andy

I have been told this same thing....

The rationale is that if you take the opportunity to pick up a bat between innings for one team, and the next inning you don't have the same opportunity for whatever reason, it can be seen as favoritism toward one team.

The guy that told me this said that he would rather be thought a jerk by BOTH teams for not picking up the bat. He also advises not to touch the ball between innings, like pick it up and hand it to the pitcher...some pitchers and players are very superstitious about the ball...don't touch it!

What the old white guy said....

[IRISHMAFIA]

No, for multiple reasons.

To start, it isn't my bat.
Second, a discarded bat becomes part of the field
Third, your attention should be on the ball, runners & defenders, not on the bat
Fourth, as noted, if you do it for one, but better do it for both, every time.
Fifth, is you move it, just where are you going to move it to with assurance it will not become part of the play? Can you imagine the crap you will here (and test of your insurance) if you move a bat to an area which the play goes and a player trips over a bat YOU placed there?
Sixth, and most important, it still isn't my bat.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Does the ODB's discarded bat(s) become part of the field? I.E. She drops the bat in the circle to move towards HP to direct a runner.

If a thrown ball hits that bat or a fielder trips on that bat while retrieving a loose ball, does it warrant a blocked ball and/or interference call?

Thanx.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Does the ODB's discarded bat(s) become part of the field? I.E. She drops the bat in the circle to move towards HP to direct a runner.

If a thrown ball hits that bat or a fielder trips on that bat while retrieving a loose ball, does it warrant a blocked ball and/or interference call?

Thanx.

No such thing as a discarded bat from the ODB. All items, including any bats on the ODC are the responsibility of the ODB

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

MTD, Jr., and I both umpire baseball and fast pitch softball and neither of us have ever moved a bat in either sport.

MTD, Sr.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Understanding that rules are different for baseball/softball, does baseball, and specifically MLB, have rules for "stuff" in the OD circle?

Many times I see catchers having to tiptoe through bats, warm-up devices, rags, etc., while trying to catch a foul ball. If they trip over any of that, is there rule recourse?

Thanx.

[EsqUmp]

Safely, carefully and cautiously remove the bat.

It is more reasonable and prudent for a trained adult to do this than an amateur athlete.

Forget the 5 lines of BS that the old guard tells you. They lack common sense, legal intelligence and normal standards of care. The arguments they put forth are nonsense that has been passed down to them over the years and they have done a disservice to all by perpetuating such illogical and unreasonable thinking.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Does the ODB's discarded bat(s) become part of the field? I.E. She drops the bat in the circle to move towards HP to direct a runner.

If a thrown ball hits that bat or a fielder trips on that bat while retrieving a loose ball, does it warrant a blocked ball and/or interference call?

Thanx.

From the NCAA book:

"9.8 Equipment Blocked Ball
9.8.1 No loose equipment (that is, gloves/mitts, hats, helmets, jackets, balls, on-deck batter’s bats), miscellaneous items, or detached parts of a player’s uniform, other than that being legally used in the game at the time, should be within playable territory as it could cause a blocked ball. Official equipment that may be within playable territory with no effect includes the batter’s bat, the catcher’s mask or helmet, umpire paraphernalia, and any helmet that has inadvertently fallen off the head of an offensive or defensive player during the course of play."

So, at least in NCAA play, an ODB's warm-up bat lying in the circle is specifically listed as loose equipment and may be liable for a blocked ball call.

As for ASA, Rule Supplement #17 specifically states what is not considered loose equipment:

"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."

It could be inferred from that statement that the ODB's warm-up bat is considered loose equipment, since it's not listed as official equipment, unless the vagueness of "any equipment belonging to a person assigned to the game" allows for that interpretation. Frankly, I have no idea what that last clause means.

NFHS is even more vague. 1-8-3 only mentions the batter's discarded bat and the catcher's helmet/mask as examples of equipment not considered loose.

Bottom line: I would considered a warm-up bat on the ground as loose equipment in FED and ASA play. The ODB should be able to hang on to it during the course of play.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Thanx, Manny. Excellent summary. I'm gonna copy/paste that because I know I won't be able to find it again in 6 months when I need it!

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by irishmafia

no, for multiple reasons.

To start, it isn't my bat. though true, NOT RELEVANT.
second, a discarded bat becomes part of the field. though true, still NOT RELEVANT.
third, your attention should be on the ball, runners & defenders, not on the bat. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. Can't you?
Fourth, as noted, if you do it for one, but better do it for both, every time. COMPLETE BS. Do it whenever possible. That is what a reasonably prudent person would do.
fifth, is you move it, just where are you going to move it to with assurance it will not become part of the play? Can you imagine the crap you will here (and test of your insurance) if you move a bat to an area which the play goes and a player trips over a bat you placed there? What i can assure you is that it will be part of the play IF YOU DON'T MOVE IT. So by that logic, you ought to do what you can to limit it. If the ball hits it after you moved it, who gives a $h!t? "Coach, i moved the bat because it was hazardous." PERIOD.
sixth, and most important, it still isn't my bat. Though still true, STILL NOT RELEVANT.

let's wake up people.

[teebob21]

Interesting set of responses. Good read.

I used to move the bat when possible. I no longer make the attempt.

If I was ever working rec league 8U/10U again, I might move the bat as needed. That said, my daughter has been playing 8U. While they are uniformly horrible, not once has the bat been an issue at that level.