Thrown bat dropped third strike

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Aug 23, 2016
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ASA rules. 10U rec. The league has no rule against throwing bats.

The batter was not a very strong hitter, trying to hit against a hard thrower. On an 0-2 pitch, the batter stepped into her swing then spun on her front foot while swinging as hard as she could. She released the bat during her backswing, and the bat headed directly for the catcher, who wisely jumped out of the bat's path. The runner reached first base on the dropped third strike.

Coach asked the ump about the thrown bat, ump said there's no rule against throwing bats so the runner is safe.

So I get she's not out for throwing the bat, but couldn't the ump have called interference on the batter for flinging her bat towards the catcher? While I'll admit that she looked like she was going to miss the third strike even without the bat flinging, moving away from the plate to avoid being hit by the bat certainly kept her from attempting to retrieve the ball and throw down to first.

Thoughts?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
ASA rules. 10U rec. The league has no rule against throwing bats.

The batter was not a very strong hitter, trying to hit against a hard thrower. On an 0-2 pitch, the batter stepped into her swing then spun on her front foot while swinging as hard as she could. She released the bat during her backswing, and the bat headed directly for the catcher, who wisely jumped out of the bat's path. The runner reached first base on the dropped third strike.

Coach asked the ump about the thrown bat, ump said there's no rule against throwing bats so the runner is safe.

So I get she's not out for throwing the bat, but couldn't the ump have called interference on the batter for flinging her bat towards the catcher? While I'll admit that she looked like she was going to miss the third strike even without the bat flinging, moving away from the plate to avoid being hit by the bat certainly kept her from attempting to retrieve the ball and throw down to first.

Thoughts?

The umpire was correct. And I'm having a hard time that with a "hard thrower", the catcher actually had time to see the bat, move out of the way and still be able to catch the pitch. I do not believe there is INT. The batter did not "discard" the bat, it slipped out of her hand. Then again, I didn't see it and may have had a completely different outlook if I did
 
Last edited:
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
FYI, I didn't say that the catcher was going to be able to catch the ball. I should have written "While I'll admit that the catcher was going to miss the third strike even without the bat flinging...."

I'm not saying the flying bat kept her from catching the ball, but it did keep her from chasing after the ball and throwing the runner out at first. Is it not interference because nothing hit the catcher? I'm not trying to argue but I just want to understand.
 
Oct 11, 2018
231
43
ASA rules. 10U rec. The league has no rule against throwing bats.

The batter was not a very strong hitter, trying to hit against a hard thrower. On an 0-2 pitch, the batter stepped into her swing then spun on her front foot while swinging as hard as she could. She released the bat during her backswing, and the bat headed directly for the catcher, who wisely jumped out of the bat's path. The runner reached first base on the dropped third strike.

Coach asked the ump about the thrown bat, ump said there's no rule against throwing bats so the runner is safe.

So I get she's not out for throwing the bat, but couldn't the ump have called interference on the batter for flinging her bat towards the catcher? While I'll admit that she looked like she was going to miss the third strike even without the bat flinging, moving away from the plate to avoid being hit by the bat certainly kept her from attempting to retrieve the ball and throw down to first.

Thoughts?

I got an out. exactly as you say, she flung the bat interfering with the catcher's ability to make an out. Rule USA 8.2.F.5: By discarding the bat in a manner that prevents the defense from making a play on the ball.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
I got an out. exactly as you say, she flung the bat interfering with the catcher's ability to make an out. Rule USA 8.2.F.5: By discarding the bat in a manner that prevents the defense from making a play on the ball.

But she didn't "discard" the bat, it slipped out of her hands. Like I said, HTBT
 
Oct 11, 2018
231
43
But she didn't "discard" the bat, it slipped out of her hands. Like I said, HTBT

I don't see a distinction between a bat that is intentionally discarded vs. a bat that slips out of the hand. they are both discarded and I would apply USA rule 8.2.F.5: "by discarding their bat in a manner that prevents the defense from making a play on the ball"

The NFHS rules are much clearer on this point. 7.4.14 in the case book. describes a bat that slips out of batter's hands. Batter is out "because batter is responsible for controlling her bat and not allowing it to interfere with a defensive player...." The actual rule says "throws her bat" but in the case play it clarifies that a bat that slips out is treated the same. Granted this clarification is in the high school rules, but i can't see a reason why a "slipped" bat would not be considered a discarded bat in USA. NFHS also makes a distinction between a broken bat and a thrown bat. A broken bat is played out, while a thrown bat that interferes is a dead ball - OUT.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
I don't see a distinction between a bat that is intentionally discarded vs. a bat that slips out of the hand. they are both discarded and I would apply USA rule 8.2.F.5: "by discarding their bat in a manner that prevents the defense from making a play on the ball"

The NFHS rules are much clearer on this point. 7.4.14 in the case book. describes a bat that slips out of batter's hands. Batter is out "because batter is responsible for controlling her bat and not allowing it to interfere with a defensive player...." The actual rule says "throws her bat" but in the case play it clarifies that a bat that slips out is treated the same. Granted this clarification is in the high school rules, but i can't see a reason why a "slipped" bat would not be considered a discarded bat in USA. NFHS also makes a distinction between a broken bat and a thrown bat. A broken bat is played out, while a thrown bat that interferes is a dead ball - OUT.

Not saying that is wrong, but as I noted earlier, HTBT
 
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
OP here. I guess my problem with the call is that the bat was flung with pretty good velocity - this batter tends to release the bat at the end of her swing, so I often see the coach at the entry of the third base have to jump out of the way, or sometimes the on-deck batter has to run. But this time because the batter did a sort-of pirouette on her front foot, and she turned enough that when she released the bat it was headed behind her instead of to foul territory on the third base side. The bat didn't slide out of her hand toward the ground but was airborne and if the catcher had not moved it would have hit her in the head.

The batter's coach doesn't seem to have a problem with the thrown bat, and coach waved off the ump every time he suggested that coach talk to his player about holding on to the bat (she flung it several times during the game).

To me it seems like a huge safety problem, especially at their age, but I guess the only way to deal with it is to ask the league to make a house rule against throwing bats.
 
Oct 11, 2018
231
43
OP here. I guess my problem with the call is that the bat was flung with pretty good velocity - this batter tends to release the bat at the end of her swing, so I often see the coach at the entry of the third base have to jump out of the way, or sometimes the on-deck batter has to run. But this time because the batter did a sort-of pirouette on her front foot, and she turned enough that when she released the bat it was headed behind her instead of to foul territory on the third base side. The bat didn't slide out of her hand toward the ground but was airborne and if the catcher had not moved it would have hit her in the head.

The batter's coach doesn't seem to have a problem with the thrown bat, and coach waved off the ump every time he suggested that coach talk to his player about holding on to the bat (she flung it several times during the game).

To me it seems like a huge safety problem, especially at their age, but I guess the only way to deal with it is to ask the league to make a house rule against throwing bats.

Here's another tid-bit from the rule supplement section on Interference:
Batter interference occurs while the batter is at bat and before the ball is batted. It occurs in fast-pitch when the batter interferes with the catcher's throw on an attempted steal or when the batter interferes with the catcher on a play at the plate. The batter's box is not a sanctuary for the batter when a play is being made at the plate. Interference could also occur when a batter releases the bat in a manner that it hits the catcher and prevents them from making a play. If the batter merely drops the bat and the catcher trips over it, this is not interference.

Few years back i was umping a 12U rec team. Girl threw the bat and i talked to coach. He said she was a first year player. Next time up she did the same. I told coach that if she wants to bat for the rest of the game I will only allow her to bunt. He agrees. Next time up she bunts and gets a Little League home run!

The umpires have some latitude here. My warning to a team after more than one thrown bat; next batter who throws the bat will be ejected for unsportsmanlike play. Accidents happen but repetitive behavior is an injury risk.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
OP here. I guess my problem with the call is that the bat was flung with pretty good velocity - this batter tends to release the bat at the end of her swing, so I often see the coach at the entry of the third base have to jump out of the way, or sometimes the on-deck batter has to run. But this time because the batter did a sort-of pirouette on her front foot, and she turned enough that when she released the bat it was headed behind her instead of to foul territory on the third base side. The bat didn't slide out of her hand toward the ground but was airborne and if the catcher had not moved it would have hit her in the head.

The batter's coach doesn't seem to have a problem with the thrown bat, and coach waved off the ump every time he suggested that coach talk to his player about holding on to the bat (she flung it several times during the game).

To me it seems like a huge safety problem, especially at their age, but I guess the only way to deal with it is to ask the league to make a house rule against throwing bats.

So now you are changing the circumstances surrounding the game?
 

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