Rule interpretation

[default]

Runners on first and second. One out. Batter bunts bunted ball hits bat on ground in fair territory. Umpire called dead ball batter out. Runners return to base. Was this correct call?

 

[default]

Umpires judgment

 

[default]

yes

 

[default]

I believe if batter throws bat into ball it's correct call. If batter lays bat down ball has back spin rolls into bat then safe

 

[default]

If the bat hits the ball umpire has judgement whether to call dead ball foul ball or dead ball batter out. Based if he thinks batter threw bat at ball intentionally. If the ball rolls back and hits bat laying on ground then bat has become part of field and play on live ball.

 

[default]

Federation rules...7-13...Batter is out...After hitting or bunting a ball, the bat hits the ball a second time while the ball is on or over fair territory, or is on or over foul territory and, in the umpires judgment had a chance to become a fair ball. Exception: If the batter is in the batters box and the bat is in the batters hand when the second contact occurs, it is a foul ball regardless of whether the ball was on or over fair or foul territory unless, in the umpires judgment, the batter intentionally hit the ball a second time. Penalty: The batter is out. All runners must return to the base occupied at the time of pitch. 5-1-1b, this is a dead ball. Blue got it right.

 

[default]

USSSA rule: (ASA is similar)

G. After hitting or bunting a ball, the bat hits the ball a second time while the
ball is on or over fair territory, or is on or over foul territory and, in the
Umpire?s judgment, had a chance to become a fair ball, the ball is dead, no
runner(s) advance and the batter is out.
EXCEPTION: If the bat and ball accidentally come in contact with each
other a second time while the batter is holding the bat in the batter?s box,
it is a foul ball.
NOTE: If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair
territory and, in the Umpire?s judgment, there was no intention to interfere
with the course of the ball, the batter is not out and the ball is live and in
play.


NFHS case study example:

B1 swings and (a) hits the ball which strikes home plate and bounces up hitting the bat while the batter is in the batter's box; (b) after laying down the bat and running to first, the ball hits the bat in fair territory; or (c) while advancing to first, drops the bat in fair territory and the bat, while still moving, hits the ball.
RULING: A foul ball in (a). The ball remains live in (b). In (c), the batter is out and the ball is dead.

 

[default]

My DD was called out on this at least 3 or 4 times her first year in 10U (9 yrs old). She is left handed so when she would bunt sometimes she would push it down the first base line and she had a bad habit of taking one or two steps and then dropping the bat when running to first. She would bunt the ball take a step or two drop the bat and run, well the bat was 6 to 12 inches in front of the batted ball so sometimes the ball would roll into the bat and she was called out. If she would bunt and drop the bat immediately and if the ball had backspin and it came back and hit her bat then she was safe. It was a just a bad habit that she had to break herself of so that she wouldn't get called out after laying down a great bunt.

 

[default]

USSSA rule: (ASA is similar)

G. After hitting or bunting a ball, the bat hits the ball a second time while the ball is on or over fair territory, or is on or over foul territory and, in the Umpire's judgment, had a chance to become a fair ball, the ball is dead, no runner(s) advance and the batter is out.
EXCEPTION: If the bat and ball accidentally come in contact with each other a second time while the batter is holding the bat in the batter's box, it is a foul ball.
NOTE: If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the Umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the batter is not out and the ball is live and in play.


NFHS case study example:

B1 swings and (a) hits the ball which strikes home plate and bounces up hitting the bat while the batter is in the batter's box; (b) after laying down the bat and running to first, the ball hits the bat in fair territory; or (c) while advancing to first, drops the bat in fair territory and the bat, while still moving, hits the ball.
RULING: A foul ball in (a). The ball remains live in (b). In (c), the batter is out and the ball is dead.

^^^^ This is it.

If unintentional, it boils down to whether the bat hit the ball or vice versa.

 

[default]

What the man from California said. In the simplest of terms:

If the bat hits the ball = interference, batter out.

If the ball hits the bat = no penalty, live ball, play on.

The lone exception to the last one is if the umpire judges that the batter intentionally discarded the bat in such a way to cause the ball to hit it. That would also be interference.

 

[default]

Definitely going to have to dig out the old case book and brush up...Bottom line is we need to be conscious of what we do with the bat. As it is with most judgment calls some one is going to be upset with the outcome.

 

[default]

It is not a judgement call at all. Brettman stated it exactly right. I saw this call blown at Newark vs. Pick North the other night. I won't try to repeat what Brettman said cause he explained it perfectly.

 

[default]

This rule, like most rules, requires some judgement by the umpire whether what happened met the criteria to apply the rule. Determining whether the bat hit the ball or vice versa is a judgement. Intent is a judgement.

Which part of the call did the umpire blow - the judgement or the rule?