Being Looked Upon as an OOJ

[chapmaja]

I am going to disagree with those of you who think the ODB being in the ODC behind the batter isn't safer.

I have seen ODB's in safe ODC's get hit by foul balls. One instance was at a University of Michigan game. The batter was late on her swing and hit a screaming line drive into the ODC where her team mate was standing. Thankful it did not her square and only glanced off her arm. Still it hurt her enough that the trainer had to take a look at her.

I'm sure the ODC at Michigan meets all of the distance requirements for being away from the plate.

What I have yet to see is a batter in the ODC behind the batter get hit by anything hit remotely hard towards her.

The league I work rec ball in has the requirement that the ODB be in the ODC behind the batter. The reason? A few years ago we had a girl seriously injured taking a foul ball off the side of the neck while standing in the ODC in front of the batter. Was she paying attention to what was going on? From what I heard no, but we needed to be prepared for worst case situations and the worst case situation is a line drive hit into the ODC while the ODB isn't paying attention.

Now as for the stealing signs or talking trash issue. Our rule is simple. If there is anything witnessed by the umpire (s) the team loses the ODC for the remainder of the game. We have yet to enforce this since I've been working that league.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I am going to disagree with those of you who think the ODB being in the ODC behind the batter isn't safer.

I have seen ODB's in safe ODC's get hit by foul balls. One instance was at a University of Michigan game. The batter was late on her swing and hit a screaming line drive into the ODC where her team mate was standing. Thankful it did not her square and only glanced off her arm. Still it hurt her enough that the trainer had to take a look at her.

I'm sure the ODC at Michigan meets all of the distance requirements for being away from the plate.

What I have yet to see is a batter in the ODC behind the batter get hit by anything hit remotely hard towards her.

The league I work rec ball in has the requirement that the ODB be in the ODC behind the batter. The reason? A few years ago we had a girl seriously injured taking a foul ball off the side of the neck while standing in the ODC in front of the batter. Was she paying attention to what was going on? From what I heard no, but we needed to be prepared for worst case situations and the worst case situation is a line drive hit into the ODC while the ODB isn't paying attention.

Now as for the stealing signs or talking trash issue. Our rule is simple. If there is anything witnessed by the umpire (s) the team loses the ODC for the remainder of the game. We have yet to enforce this since I've been working that league.

So in the ball you work, every batter swings late? The ODB is only unsafe if on the opposite side?

Start calling higher level ball where the dead pull hitters jerk everything foul behind them, and with much greater force than hitting opposite. Your U of Michigan Sierra Lawrence could take the head off the on deck batter; she grew up in my area.

Just because you haven't seen it in your JV schedule doesn't make it remotely appropriate for higher level play. No major organization, NCAA, ISF, ASA, NFHS allow on deck batters anywhere but THEIR side; for good reasons.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

... No major organization, NCAA, ISF, ASA, NFHS allow on deck batters anywhere but THEIR side; for good reasons.

except for ASA Men's FP, because they whined about it.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I am going to disagree with those of you who think the ODB being in the ODC behind the batter isn't safer. ...What I have yet to see is a batter in the ODC behind the batter get hit by anything hit remotely hard towards her. ...

I never claimed that behind the batter wasn't safer; I said it was "not actually safe". As I said, I have a number of years experience with this rule, up through 18U and varsity high school, and I have seen a number of screaming foul balls hit toward the ODB behind the batter, and a few make contact. It could be argued that being behind the batter gives the ODB a false sense of safety and could lead to even more inattention.

Nonetheless, in your example, if they wanted to actually put the ODC in a safe location, they'd put it outside the fence. Any location within the playing field is still subject to being hit by a batted ball:
Minor League Coach Killed By Line Drive

[CecilOne]

There is a HS coach near here who insists on having ithe ODB about 15 feet from the batter instead of 30 feet, when behind the batter.
He kind of proved geometrically that the angle to the closer position is even less likely for the batter to hit the ODB.
This is 3rd base dugout with RH batters.