Thrown bats

I was taught (and believe) that this is a safety issue. There is no rule book citation where this is an out (which I have seen some umpires call).

I give the batter and manager a warning that if it happens again the player will be removed from the game for player safety purposes. If that same batter does it in a following at bat, he is removed from the game (not ejected with its required one game suspension). I did this in a LL section game a few years back when the batter smacked the catcher hard with the bat his first time up and id it again the next time up.

Steve Smith

About three weeks ago while working a game in Elk Grove 13-14,a batter threw his bat after a strike,knocked off my mask and hat. Time was called and I warned his coach next time he would be out. The coach agreed with me and it did not happen again. Last year at River Park LL a batter tossed his bat and hit me in the back of the head,I thought it was the ball until I heard the ping of the bat. Both of these events are dangerous and remind me to always be aware of where I am at.

bmcm77: Under what authority do you declare a batter out when he throws a bat? What do you do with the other runners?

You can't just make up rules as you go simply because you don't like what's happening.

As a safety issue, my inclination would be to remove the player from the game (as opposed to an ejection.) If the batter made it to a base, his substitute would enter the game and run the bases for him.

This is a problem mostly in LL. It is important to understand that most coaches at LL level are NOT true coaches, but simply a parent volunteering to act as a coach on his child's team. Many don't know the inherent issues of sportsmanship and safety that is so important. As umpires, we need to be educators as well as officials of the game. Throwing a bat, either deliberately or not, is a safety issue that must be addressed immediately. High School deals with it under Rule 3.3.1.c and after a warning, the offender is ejected. LL players should also be warned as well as the coach, and if it occurs again, an ejection is in order.

For me it depends on why the bat was thrown. If it was a reaction and not intentional I would warn the coach, if however it was thrown out of anger or intentionally thrown I would eject the batter.

Terrance Farrell

Unfortunately this happens quite a bit in lower caliber high school games.  If the bat is thrown intentionally you have every right to eject the batter, ie; upset at a call by the umpire the player throws his bat, a player is upset for whatever reason and he throws his bat you need to weigh the situation and if in your opinion you can eject in the interest of safety and sportsmanship.  When a batter throws his bat backward toward you or the catcher after a swing you definetly need to warn the player and inform the coach that if it should happen again the player could be removed from the game.  I just had this last Friday with a player from Sierra Christian.  I warned the player, talked to the coach and it did not happen again, thank goodness.  The player was my catcher and the team only had 11 players and who knows who the coach would put in to catch.  My one suggestion would be to always rule with safety and sportsmanship in mind and don't make something up because it will come back and bite you later.  Unfortunately the coaches at this level aren't any better than the coaches at the youth level so always try to remember that before you do something drastic.  

Tom Ramirez      

I agree with Terrance, Tom, and others:  if the bat is thrown in anger/intentional the player should be ejected for unsportsmanship and safety reasons; a slip after a swing, or release after a hit should be dealt with by a warning to batter and coach.  The next player is restricted to dugout.

Loren G

In LL play, some of these youngsters trying to swing too hard, lose the grip on the bat unintentionally. I've been hit like that a few times and so has the catcher when the bat flies backward, and the way I deal with it, is getting the player and the coach together and give them a warning. And if it happens again, then, such player should be ejected. Being a safety issue, it should be dealt with right away.
Manuel