I saw the ump in the LSU / Irvine game today take a shot off the mask from a foul tip and he stayed right there and just shook his head. I think this umpire must have a chip on his shoulder as well as the ball in his mask.

 

Why does it matter if the umpire was hurt? The catcher intentionally let a pitched ball hit the umpire. Uncalled for and inexcusable.

I saw the ump in the LSU / Irvine game today take a shot off the mask from a foul tip and he stayed right there and just shook his head. I think this umpire must have a chip on his shoulder as well as the ball in his mask.

 

Wow... I can't believe you're even comparing a foul tip to an intentional ball being allowed to hit the umpire. Many umpires have experienced neck sprains and headaches from taking foul balls off the mask (myself included). Jeff had a MRI and did experience a neck sprain. Your last sentence is pretty sad...very bush.

I am checking out the youtube video right now. IMO the pitch hits the helmet of the batter, hits the ump in the arm, and then hits the catcher in the back. I feel the catcher was merely reacting to the sound of the ball hitting the batter's helmet and ducking to protect himself. I don't think this was premeditated at all. Just mho.

Wow... I can't believe you're even comparing a foul tip to an intentional ball being allowed to hit the umpire. Many umpires have experienced neck sprains and headaches from taking foul balls off the mask (myself included). Jeff had a MRI and did experience a neck sprain. Your last sentence is pretty sad...very bush.

 

I still think Jeff has a chip on his shoulder or is trying to make a statement.

I must retract my first impression of the video. I shared the video with the authorities of the household, (two softball players and one baseball player.) They all concur that the pitch did not hit the batter's helmet because of his reaction. He holds his hand out to signal the runner to stay on third, instead of advancing toward first base as he would had he been hit by the pitch.

Seems like a pretty harsh penalty. I'm not sure what fining the school $1,000 will do either?

 

The umpire did not seem to be injured either. I realize that he said he was injured in the interview after the game, but I have a hard time believing that. Shaken up? Probably. But not injured.

 

I've heard a lot about this (hitting the umpire) but have never seen it done.

 

My son umpires some Cincinnati Knothole games. Well he told me that a couple weeks ago that he had a game in Bellvue Ky with one of the teams from over the rhine Cincinnati. Well aparently that team wasn't real good and had a very hard time throwing strikes. As the game went on they were getting beat pretty bad, and time was called by the coach. He called the catcher over and said something to him. Play resumed and the catcher held his mitt above his head, the pitcher threw a fast ball the catcher pulled his glove down and the ball hit my son in the chest. My son didn't know what to do not having a whole lot of experience, he just kind of laughed and told the catcher, that was the most accurate pitch he had thrown all game.

Well the more experienced ump in the field didn't take it so lightlly. He stopped the game and jumped all over that coach and was told he was going to report it to the league. Don't know what became of it, but that is pretty bad for a coach to teach these 13 and 14 year olds to play like that.

I think the pitcher threw a jiro ball, it bounced off the concession stand, hit the batter...then the umpire. And the catcher just ducked because he heard someone on the nearby golf course yell fore! The batter just held up his hand saying thanks for the warning. I mean seriously...you all are making it so much harder than it is. The catcher moved on purpose and it hit the umpire. Simple as that!!

I think the pitcher threw a jiro ball, it bounced off the concession stand, hit the batter...then the umpire. And the catcher just ducked because he heard someone on the nearby golf course yell fore! The batter just held up his hand saying thanks for the warning. I mean seriously...you all are making it so much harder than it is. The catcher moved on purpose and it hit the umpire. Simple as that!!

 

I agree. Anyone beating around the bush here is simply out of wack. The only thing controversial and actually fit for discussion is the punishment of the catcher and whether or not the pitcher was informed.

I believe it did hit the batters helmet....

I think it has been established that it did not hit the helmet. Mainly by the guy who works with the umpire that got hit. If you can't believe that then there's no convincing you.

I think its funny!

IMO the pitcher and catcher are guilty, and the ball did not hit the batters helmet. Iy was a classless act.

I have seen this done in college, the pitcher throws a fastball down the middle with a runner on first, and the catcher jumps out like it is a pitch out. The ball strikes the umpire. It is hard to prove there was no mix-up in that case. I have never seen a catcher just duck out of the way.

If there was a chance it hit the batter...even a small one, don't you think they would have maybe thought about that before excusing the catcher from the school?

I'm going to say, that this was the Catcher's decision. Just by the way, the Pitcher flinched or slightly reacted, gives me the impression he didn't know.

 

I don't think the ball struck the batter. I don't think, the Catcher knew it would hit the Umpire in the mask but IMO, he definitely made intentional movements to not make an attempt on the pitch.