Thrown Bat

[ice_67]

ASA rules, Can an umpire call the batter out for a thrown bat?

Two scenerios.

1. Batter hits ball and throws her bat by mistake. Bat ends up against the backstop.
2. R1 on 3rd, squeeze play, pitcher throws ball wide of the plate and batter squares to bunt and has to toss tha bat to make contact.

[wadeintothem]

Speaking ASA

No rules against either thing you posted.

Throwing it in anger = USC
Discarding it in a manner than interferes with the defense making a play. is interference. For your second scenario - I would consider it an attempt, not discarding the bat... but there could be a debate here.


No INT or USC = no rule.

This situation came up this weekend.. and upon talking to the umpire I found out that in their rec league, their rec league does have that rule. I do think this is a myth perpetuated by special league rules.

Also, umpires dont like to get hit by bats and its dangerous so some umps just do it to teach a lesson. An umpire invented rule.

In championship play:

Ejection .. a possibility.
Out ... not without interference.

[ice_67]

Wade,

Thanks for the info. It would have been interesting to see a batter toss her bat on a squeeze play, make contact, ball roll into fair territory and see all hell break loose after the play.

[wadeintothem]

No prob -
Releasing a bat on a bat is not an uncommon form of a bunt.

All hell always breaks loose on a good squeeze..

Thats why they are fun plays!

[GIMNEPIWO]

I brought this up under another thread ( throwing a bat to make contact ) , because my fellow Coach inquired ... his query was a pitched ball rolling on the ground, would it be legal for a batter to throw the bat at the ball in order to make a contact ... and as Wade pointed out, and it was pointed out on 'the other site', that it is a legal play ...

[MTR]

I brought this up under another thread ( throwing a bat to make contact ) , because my fellow Coach inquired ... his query was a pitched ball rolling on the ground, would it be legal for a batter to throw the bat at the ball in order to make a contact ... and as Wade pointed out, and it was pointed out on 'the other site', that it is a legal play ...

However, before everyone starts throwing their bat at the pitch, if the batter's foot is outside of the batter's box at the time the bat contacts the ball, the batter is out. There is no requirement for the bat to be in the batter's hand for this rule to apply.