high school ump hit by pitch (on purpose)

[tnip23]

I thought it was kind of funny as the ump does wear protective equipment. But the fact that the school was fined, the catcher was told not to walk-on at the college he was going to go to, and that the a-hole ump (don't know him, i just refer to all umps as a-holes) is filing a lawsuit that Rick Reilly in this article seems to think is justified, tells me my sense of humor may be tainted by my dislike of sport's officials. Watch for yourself http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/st...t&lid=tab1pos1

[PadronMe]

Originally Posted by tnip23

I thought it was kind of funny as the ump does wear protective equipment. But the fact that the school was fined, the catcher was told not to walk-on at the college he was going to go to, and that the a-hole ump (don't know him, i just refer to all umps as a-holes) is filing a lawsuit that Rick Reilly in this article seems to think is justified, tells me my sense of humor may be tainted by my dislike of sport's officials. Watch for yourself http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/st...t&lid=tab1pos1

While I think a lawsuit is stupid, the rest of the consequences are justified. That's pretty dangerous. What if the ball hit him in the throat?

[Lorglath]

bit of an over reaction to this since it did hit his mask and no real harm was done

[theycallmedan'lboone]

Well I think the suit it a little much, but those to kids banned for life, a la pete rose, it will put a damper on it. I've stood toe to toe with an official as a player and a coach and told them that they were absolutely unfit to lick the dirt off my boots, much less be on the soccer pitch, but I've never struck one in anger... well there was that one it Italy that swung on me first but that was different.... BAN THEM!

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Lorglath

bit of an over reaction to this since it did hit his mask and no real harm was done

I say the catcher should never play organized sports again. So the ump wasn't hurt...but he could have been. Just let the douche bag catcher keep playing until someone does get hurt? I think not.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I say the catcher should never play organized sports again. So the ump wasn't hurt...but he could have been. Just let the douche bag catcher keep playing until someone does get hurt? I think not.

sounds to me like the catcher and pitcher were both in on this. Assault charges may give them something to think about in the future.

[SilverFox]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I say the catcher should never play organized sports again. So the ump wasn't hurt...but he could have been. Just let the douche bag catcher keep playing until someone does get hurt? I think not.

Why is it that people judge the nature of someones action by the result. Didn't get hurt? Could have been killed, but folks rely on the didn't get hurt to say the consequences are to harsh.

[kas]

Like others, I think the lawsuit is an overreach. But I also believe the other punishment is justified. One of the hallmarks of our society is a breakdown in respect for authority. Some of it is brought on by the actions of those in authority - yes -- but it is critical that we maintain a sense of respect. Otherwise, we descend into chaos. Boo the ump, question the call, argue if you wish but never never never strike an ump or you are gone. Just my

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I say the catcher should never play organized sports again. So the ump wasn't hurt...but he could have been. Just let the douche bag catcher keep playing until someone does get hurt? I think not.

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

sounds to me like the catcher and pitcher were both in on this. Assault charges may give them something to think about in the future.

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Why is it that people judge the nature of someones action by the result. Didn't get hurt? Could have been killed, but folks rely on the didn't get hurt to say the consequences are to harsh.

In California, assault on a sports official is a felony.

Originally Posted by tnip23

I thought it was kind of funny as the ump does wear protective equipment. But the fact that the school was fined, the catcher was told not to walk-on at the college he was going to go to, and that the a-hole ump (don't know him, i just refer to all umps as a-holes) is filing a lawsuit that Rick Reilly in this article seems to think is justified, tells me my sense of humor may be tainted by my dislike of sport's officials. Watch for yourself http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/st...t&lid=tab1pos1

No problem. I don't like you either.

[Volt]

I had to watch that about 10 times. If not for the catcher, I'd say hard to prove. Even if the catcher tried to say "he thought" it was to be a low pitch, the ducking and looking down would give it away. The ump did seem to be off to the side a bit though from the angle of the camera.

The lawsuit - BS as most are in the US.... Neither IMO shuld be allowed to play again in any league. Definitly could have been a deadly throw.

[Kwilkinson]

Terrible to see, terrible to even think of. For Christ's sake, you're in high school. You're not getting paid to do this, it doesn't even affect your life, and yet you put someone else's life in danger to do it? Ridiculous. When I was in HS, which was only 3 years ago, between soccer and basketball, I had plenty of my problems with referees, but I would have never dreamed of doing something to cause harm to them. It's a GAME.

[ky toker]

Growing up playing baseball you just had to heckle some refs, but this is just BS. I'd almost say this ref is being a whinny-nancy-ass but these are big boys throwing that ball and it can do some damage. I spent many years either pitching or catch and couldn't image something so disrespectful, lack of sportsmanship, and dangerous. The ref is not only behind the catch to call strikes and balls, but for protection as well.

If the guy isn't hurt then he needs to wipe that splattered pride off his sleeves and rock on, but if he did suffer some type of damage then he should protect himself incase in turns serious.

[pakrat]

Anybody happen to notice that the ball hit the batter in the head first? Kinda hard to believe that the pitcher planned a bank shot off of the batters head.

[Kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by pakrat

Anybody happen to notice that the ball hit the batter in the head first? Kinda hard to believe that the pitcher planned a bank shot off of the batters head.

Ya know--I think you're exactly right. Pause the video through the slow-motion section and step it thru frame to frame. You can see the ball's trajectory change as it banks off the front of the batting helmet.

This would certainly lend credibility to the catcher's claim that he was expecting a breaking ball.

[gvarsity]

This is pretty typical of the litigation of freaking everything. His future should not be in jeopardy. He must not be a good enough player because if you are Delmon Young good you can take a bat to somebody and they still want you.


The kid should have ejected and suspended for a couple of games and that should have been the end of it.