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Online now: 2 members: L.L., TABLE SETTER 11; 56 anonymousDiscussion: Rules of the Game
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| July 29, 2015 stick8 1991 posts | Rules of the Game Recently witnessed this scenario: Runners on 1st and 2nd, two outs. Batter hits a grounder to third, third baseman bobbles it. Pitcher races over to cover third for a force play but got there too late. It appeared the third baseman got pissed, flung the ball by the pitcher and it struck the bats along the fence that the batting team was using. Umpire calls dead ball, lead runner out, inning over. Is this the correct call? |
| July 29, 2015 OZ40 549 posts | Stick, yes & no depending on the circumstances. As always, ONLY the on deck batter outside of the dugout with his bat. No bats or other items outside of the dugout, if such items are present and a live ball contacts them then it's a dead ball and offensive interference rules come into play. I can think an exception or "judgement call" by the umpire would be in order if the defensive throw was obviously a result of anger or frustration with the result of the play. Rules state an umpire may rule on any event not covered in the rules. Also if there was a designated on-deck area and the ball came in contact with something in that area then I believe play continues. The entire scenario you describe would have been avoided if the umpire and or players were vigilant in keeping all items within the dugout. |
| July 30, 2015 stick8 1991 posts | Oz as always your thoughts are spot on. And your right one on deck only, everyone else in and bats in the dugout. The exception being the USSSA conference--they allow 2 on deck batters and all team bats are in a bucket next to the dugout. Any errant throw that hits the bucket the play is still considered live. |
| July 30, 2015 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Stick8, Utrip here makes the buckets stay at the corners of the backstop for the umpire to monitor. Of course they are the only association that keeps a ball live if a batted ball hits a runner on the bag. That to me is a real safety issue. If I was the umpire and believed that he threw that ball in anger, I would not enforce the blocked ball, and I would probably hook him out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Of course I am a horrible babysitter. ;-) |
