Who's responsibility is it?

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Just wondering..... who's responsibility is it to move a bat away from the plate when there is a play at the plate? Is it the umpire's? the catcher's? or is is nobody's?

I would assume it would be the umpire's but I don't know if this actually covered in the rule book.

I ask because in our high school game today.... runner was rounding 3rd heading home, catcher was getting in position, ball was thrown to plate and there was a bat laying about a foot from the plate on the 3rd base line. Catcher actually tried to kick the bat as she was getting into position but didn't have time.

Here's the thing though....the runner was originally coming from 2nd base so when the batter actually hit the ball, there was plenty of time for "someone" to move the bat but no one did. Luckly the ball was thrown wild because, with the catcher in postion, the runner actually had to stop to keep from tripping on the bat.

The umpire was standing by the plate the entire time and I thought maybe he should've moved it as soon as the ball hit the outfield.

 

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It is NOT the umpire's responsiblity.

A few reasons...

- By moving the bat- which is now lying on the ground and is considered to be part of the playing field with respect to balls hitting it or players avoiding it- he may be giving one team or the other an advantage.

- Suppose he moves it for one team, then isn't able to move it for the other on another play. It can cause a problem if one team perceives that the umpire "helped" their opponent, but didn't "help" them.

- Moving bats can be a distraction from the things he is supposed to be watching- the ball, the runner, the play, etc.

- What if he moves the bat, then...the play develops in the area where he moved the bat to? Or, what if he moves it, then somebody trips over it (possible liability issue)?

- What if he tosses the bat behind him while watching a play and it hits somebody?

- I have even seen cases where a player got mad because the umpire tossed aside an expensive bat and chipped the paint!

Generally, the players playing the game are responsible for handling their own equipment.

 

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If at all possible, the catcher should be instructed to remove the bat from the immediate area. It is in her best interest for the reasons listed above. A good coach should go over this with a catcher so they not only know to remove it but how and where to toss the bat. Personally, I do not teach catchers to stand there with a bat and hand it to a runner scoring, expecting them to remove it from the zone. We toss it aside the opposite direction of the flight of the ball whatever area it will be coming from the playing field so in the event of an errant throw; the bat will hopefully not be in an area by the backstop where it will be in the way.

Offensively, I instruct the on deck girl to go get the bat and clear the area before the play. If it's a bang bang play at the plate, there's no time but a runner on second would allow it. I do not instruct them to enter the playing field but basically clean house without interrupting the catcher. Unlike baseball, we have less time for our bang bang plays so we need to be more careful about our instruction or risk an on deck player being in the way. If we have a runner that scores effortlessly and a bat is lying near, we instruct them to pick up the bat after crossing the plate, then turn around to watch for any play that may follow them.

Offensively, we try to tell the girls to do it for the very reason listed in Bretman's post. The bats are expensive and an ankle, ACL, or legs are even more expensive.

Sometimes you simply can't get it out of the way. We play small ball a lot in this game and part of the girls' training includes how to drop the bat after a bunt.

 

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Both excellent responses. I have nothing to add. Yet I felt compelled to type. Not sure why.