I think its funny!

 

 

Not sure what you mean? What was funny?

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.

 

:thumb:

 

Anyone that really honestly believes that this was unintentional just doesn't watch or know much baseball. It's kind of like when you see a balk, you may not know exactly what the pitcher did, but you know it was a balk.

 

I have never seen a catcher stick his glove out to his left as a pitch was coming in and then drop and block without moving his feet. If these kids were 11 I could see it, but not at this age or ability level.

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.

 

It's even harder to argue when you get rung up on a pitch a foot outside. Baseball is baseball and generally everyone has a pretty good idea of what is going on. You may make your point by trying to injure the umpire, but if he is wise to what your doing you'll be throwing into a Dixie cup for the rest of the game.

 

The problem is that there are way too many people that see this as "OK" or even remotely acceptable. And that is exactly why it happens, because people condone it. As far as I'm concerned throwing a hard object 90+ MPH at someone's head intentionally is definately some form of assault (definately intent to injure, hurt, or maim.....possibly to kill?). It's all fun and games until someone dies......

It's even harder to argue when you get rung up on a pitch a foot outside. Baseball is baseball and generally everyone has a pretty good idea of what is going on. You may make your point by trying to injure the umpire, but if he is wise to what your doing you'll be throwing into a Dixie cup for the rest of the game.

 

The problem is that there are way too many people that see this as "OK" or even remotely acceptable. And that is exactly why it happens, because people condone it. As far as I'm concerned throwing a hard object 90+ MPH at someone's head intentionally is definately some form of assault (definately intent to injure, hurt, or maim.....possibly to kill?). It's all fun and games until someone dies......

 

This was absolutely the case. The next 21 pitches were balls, the only reason the 22nd wasn't is that the batter swung at it. The opposing coach began to tell his batters to quit taking because a pitching change had been made, and the strike zone continued to be non-existenet, even he felt bad for the new pitcher. This took place in South Carolina.

It's even harder to argue when you get rung up on a pitch a foot outside. Baseball is baseball and generally everyone has a pretty good idea of what is going on. You may make your point by trying to injure the umpire, but if he is wise to what your doing you'll be throwing into a Dixie cup for the rest of the game.

 

The problem is that there are way too many people that see this as "OK" or even remotely acceptable. And that is exactly why it happens, because people condone it. As far as I'm concerned throwing a hard object 90+ MPH at someone's head intentionally is definately some form of assault (definately intent to injure, hurt, or maim.....possibly to kill?). It's all fun and games until someone dies......

 

AMEN:thumb: As as a sideline to an earlier post, I saw this happen once several years ago in a tournament in SC. I was at third and the guy that was behind the plate was from Arkansas. He was having a rough game and the team from Florida (who were coaches on down pretty much bad attitudes for the entire tournament) decided to take their frustrations out on him. The catcher called for a high and tight fastball and didn't even bother throwing his glove up. It took my fellow blue's mask off but didn't hurt him. Amazingly, he did not toss the pitcher or catcher (he was an ordained minister) but he did chastise the catcher by telling him that he was better than that. The catcher told him that he called for a deuce and was crossed up, but it was obvious to everyone what had happened. The plate ump's wife told me the next morning at breakfast that he had not slept any the night after the game, saddened and confused that a 18 year old ballplayer would do something that unsportsmanlike to anyone. Thank goodness, the offending team was knocked out of the tournament in that game (they were down by six late when the incident occurred). There was no doubt in anyone's mind (umpires, other teams coaches, and tournament officials) that the coaching staff had called for the pitch. In my mind, that's the basic problem. Until coaches start kicking players off teams or some other drastic punishment is applied to players who do things like this, you will continue to see this sort of thing. And, if coaching staffs call for or condone this type of behavior, they should be punished severely as well.:irked:

You can clearly hear it hit the batter's helmet. The catcher reacted a little weird, but there's no question that the ball grazes the batter's helmet.

 

The kid acted a little too wierd! He deserves what he got. I don't think a catcher on a state finalist team would be so inept at catching a deflected ball. Catchers will frequently adjust to catch a ball that is tipped by a swinging bat! I'm not sure what the score was when the incident occured but I wouldn't be surprised if Stephens County wasn't already pretty far behind. What kind of location was the catcher calling for anyway? Can someone catch a glimpse of the "pitch call"?

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!!

 

 

That is the beauty of message boards. We all debate, agree or disagree, and move on. If we all see it the same way everytime, we'd only need a news report for clarification.

Heard about this tonight on the cable news, and if I understood correctly; their "update" said the umpire, who had earlier been declared OK medically, now is suddenly having migranes and neck pain, and considering legal action against the catcher's family?? The kicker being that the catcher's brother was just signed by the Dodgers with a sizable bonus!! If I heard this correctly, all I can say is WOW!!

Two things:

1. The pitcher is in on this. It was his brother that got struck out the half inning prior. Not to mention, it would be pretty good if the catcher was able to tell that this particular pitch was going to hit the umpire in the mask and move out of the way on the right pitch.

2. This umpire is worse than both of them. He's the biggest problem in society today. People suing everyone for anything and everything. It's clear he's fine, and is just trying to get money out of this especially if that's true about the brother playing for the Dodgers.

It's ludicrous that a catcher would drop to his knees on a breaking ball head high.

(Sandy Koufax's curveball didn't break that much)

 

There are obviously some people on this thread who have never been behind the plate as a catcher or umpire.

 

The ball did not hit the batter(why would the batter wave the runner to advance?)

 

The catcher absolutely intentionally did this and the pitcher was throwing at the umpire also...It's very obvious.

 

Also, Isn't it odd that the player's principal apologized and said the punishment was fair?

Sounds like he feels it was intentional as well.

I personally think it definitely looks funny. However, hat batter gets crazed, hit, w/e in the helmet and doesn't know it. He holds his hand up telling the kid at running second to third to stay. You don't get hit in the helmet, no matter how easy, and not know it.

I was watching the Lex Cath and Harrison County game tonight and it appeared to me that the Lex Cath catcher made no attempt to catch a Nick Maronde fastball that hit the umpire in the chest. Lex Cath Coach Rodney Martin had been arguing some calls shortly before the pitch. The Harrison County batter swung at the ball but it looked as if the Lex Cath catcher just let it hit the ump. Was anyone else at the game and saw this happen? If so, what do you think happened to cause the catcher not to attempt to catch the ball?

You've all missed the the MOST IMPORTANT detail of the video!!! If you look closely you can see that the Ump clearly winks at the pitcher before he pitches, and per the rules laid out in Field of Dreams this gives the pitcher every right to bean the offending party!

 

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.... LOL In all honesty I think it was intentional and the catcher is guilty...

1) Completely and utterly intentional.

 

2) If the kid had a full ride offered, it would have been over the top to have it withdrawn for this. But, he was offered a walk-on spot, the punishment is fair and just.

 

3) From what I have heard and read the umpire deserves a far worse punishment for the fact that he is trying to profit from this. 18 year old kid makes a despicable mistake it needs to be punished, but can be understood. For a grown man to hold a grudge and do something despicable only to make money, that is unforgivable!

 

4) Why fine the school 1,000 dollars? Fine the coach 1,000 dollars if you are going to fine anyone!

In another possibility... although slightly far fetched (maybe) Is it possible that the pitcher and catcher had a mix up... perhaps the pitch was supposed to be a cutter or something of that nature in the dirt, and the catcher prematurely went to the dirt to block it. It did look somewhat reminiscent of a catcher going to the dirt to block a ball.