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Discussion: what's the call?

Posted Discussion
Aug. 21
garyheifner

651 posts
Batter hits ball to deep short and beats the throw to 1st. Batter has brain cramp and still has bat in hand as he crosses 1st. Safe or Out?
Aug. 21
gary c

418 posts
The local league I play in HE WOULD BE OUT.
Aug. 21
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
for ASA he is ok,in fact he can carry the bat all the way around the bases.usssa he must drop the bat before he touches first.senior ball not sure what their rule is....
Aug. 22
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
We have had it called an out in Senior ball. I did not even know ASA allowed carrying a bat all the way around. Is that so you can threaten anyone that tries to tag you??? lol
Aug. 22
stick8

1992 posts
I have an out.
Aug. 22
SSUSA Staff

3505 posts
In SSUSA sanctioned events, there may have been an out, but it's not an automatic call. If in the umpire's judgment, carrying the bat all the way through 1st base created a risk of injury (primary concern) or interference of the first baseman (secondary concern), an out call for interference would be appropriate. SSUSA has no requirement that the batter-runner drop the bat otherwise. This is a judgment call not subject to appeal or protest.
Aug. 22
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
Very interesting-might be something to clarify at the convention. Personally, I cannot think of any reason I would want to carry the bat any farther than I have to.
Aug. 22
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
Webbie, great point.

So carrying the bat is now legal? Yet another example of the dumbing-down of the game. :(
Aug. 22
SSUSA Staff

3505 posts
It's never been prohibited in the SSUSA Rulebook (first edition: 1989)
Aug. 22
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
I understand that, but if I recall correctly it was illegal in ASA for decades, which used to be the widely-accepted governing body of softball.

What could possibly be the point of letting it be permissible?
Aug. 22
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
well don't know for decades,but do know it hasn't been a rule for ASA(to drop the bat) for at least few years now and can't recall it ever being one,as long as you don't pose a threat to any fielder with it,you can carry it all the way around the bases.how is carrying a bat dumbing down the game?????
Aug. 22
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
When I see Jeter or Pujols carry their bats around the bases then I will know it is at least a helpful, if not necessary, thing to do.

Until then, just pointless and dumb.
Aug. 22
stick8

1992 posts
SSUSA Staff, since I'm umpiring the SSUSA Northern Regionals in Lansing this coming weekend I need to fully digest this. I can understand the judgement of the umpire where the batter runner carrying his to first base can be a threat to injure and cause interference to the first baseman and thus should be called out. If the umpire deems no threat of injury or interference are you saying that the batter runner does not have to drop the bat before going thru first base?
Aug. 22
DaveDowell
Men's 70
4323 posts
stick8 ... I'm traveling to Lansing tomorrow (Tuesday) and will be the T.D. at the Northern Championships ... I'll be at the Manager's Meeting Thursday evening and at the East Lansing Complex all four tourney days ... Would be happy to discuss this in person ... I'm sure I see over a 1,000 games as season as a Director, and this occurs less than a handful of times per year in my experience ... While I personally believe the batter-runner SHOULD drop the bat, we have no formal Rulebook based requirement that (s)he do so ... Maybe a 5-second reminder to the Managers at the pre-game conference solves this in advance ... DAVE
Aug. 22
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
Gary19-come on-even if Pujols or Jeter carry theirs around the bases, I will not be convinced it is the best thing to do, or even helpful!
Aug. 22
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
Webbie, my point was it would take someone of that caliber to even begin to make me think there is some advantage to doing it.

Otherwise, permitting it is silly/pointless/and dumbing-down the game.

I certainly was NOT advocating it.
Aug. 22
stick8

1992 posts
Dave, thanks for the info. I'll be there umpiring Saturday. Not sure if Mike will be at the meeting or not but if he is I'll fill him in about this. Your right in thaty it probably happens once or twice a year but for some reason weird stuff happens in the games I umpire. Maybe it's some form of karma?
Aug. 22
Pricer
Men's 50
621 posts
Stick, you got to beleive I'll be heading first to third bypassing second base when you do our game. LOL
Aug. 22
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
Pricer-be sure and touch the rubber on the way by.....
Aug. 22
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
Webbie, remember this is the dumbed-down 21st century version of softball. He should be able to just run through the pitcher's box and not have to step on the actual rubber.
Aug. 22
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
There has to be a rule that applies somewhere, Gary!

This is funny-why can't we keep it light like this and not carry the weight of the world on our shoulders all the time. This site can be fun with everyone joking around at times.
Aug. 22
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
well who really cares what puholes or dweeter does,if you don't like the rules to bad.there is nothing that changes the game by carrying the bat,if so name me one.
Aug. 23
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
The game wouldn't change if you wore a Speedo. Or Groucho Marx glasses. Or used a Bombat.

Try them next time you play.
Aug. 23
Webbie25
Men's 70
2414 posts
mad dog in a speedo!!!!!!! Yuuuucck!!!!
Gary-your posting priveleges should be suspended ad nauseum!!! lol
Aug. 23
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
What, you don't like that visual??????

But it wouldn't change the game. LOL
Aug. 23
#6
Men's 60
1173 posts
Why would you want to carry the bat in the first place.....I have seen some of the seniors run and they don't need the extra weight !
Aug. 23
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
Really good question, Kenny. Very good question!
Aug. 23
Pricer
Men's 50
621 posts
I aways thought the player that carried the bat to first was disgusted or embarassed with their swing and expectedto be out.
Aug. 23
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
Absolutely. Almost like they were conceding the out.
Aug. 23
Omar Khayyam

1357 posts
This point came up in our league play about 7 years ago. A batter carried the bat all the way to second base. A check of the ASA Bible showed that it was legal! Since then, we have never called it an out. WHY a batter would do that is incomprehensible, but we do, in fact, have a couple of guys who have this weird habit. Personally, I'd rather have the bat carried around than dropped way down the line to first where I, as a pitcher, do not expect it to be.
Aug. 23
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
omar exactly,who cares why they do it,it is not illegal to do it.

still waiting on my answer as to why it dumbs down the game.........
Aug. 23
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
As I did explain before, when the best players do it then I will start to think there is some point/benefit to it. When Olympic sprinters do it I will start to think it makes you faster.

Until then, it is just silly.
Aug. 24
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
where does it dumb down the game,you said it did,i want an answer,don't be like the other guy an evade questions when asked of him,answer it.

Aug. 24
Gary19
Men's 50
2609 posts
How many times do you need to see the answer.

To allow what was previously disallowed, and what cannot be done at any level of baseball, is the definition of dumbing down.
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