Bench-clearing brawl

Based on your profile, I would imagine your son is playing summer (collegiate) wood bat right now ... or perhaps Connie Mack? I ask this because for me personally, I think the age of the players and the level of competition are factors in this.

There is a way for players to "clear the benches" without putting themselves in jeopardy ... tho I know most parents don't want this to happen. But to NOT come off the bench when the entire team is on the field may send a "not a team player" message that the player doesn't want to send.

I have seen it at high school once and college once ... and at those levels, I think the penalties may be different. When our son's college team was involved in a brawl, there were only 3 players penalized ... 1 from our team and 2 from the other team. Since it was literally the last game of the season, the suspensions happened at the start of the next spring season. I don't remember what happened in the high school "brawl" but I am not sure any punches were thrown.

Anyway, we all know that there are other ways to handle frustration on the field, but ... can't quite believe I am saying this ... sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do.

JMHO

That's pretty much what my husband said, too. My son said that right before the impending brawl, he just went up to J, the biggest guy on the team and said, okay, I'm ready -- if we're going out there, I'll be right behind you

Sounds like something my son would do ... but then mine always had a clipboard in his hand from charting the pitchers so he could throw any blows. I do believe that he was warned to never use his pitching hand, tho ...

Forgive my intrusion into your space........but having been involved in a few brawls, thought I might provide a thought.

If a BCB begins, it could be seen as negative by teammates if a non-pitcher does not come onto the field. Now in most BCB's very little fighting actually happens, most of it is pushing and shoving and a wrestling match. In fact your presence in the field is usually to match up with an opposing player and insure that they dont get into it as well. You can see this a lot in hockey.....2 players will tie each other up in effect negating them from the fight.

Now, from an umpires point of view, I frown on BCB's as you can imagine. I take it as partially my fault. I must have seen it coming or let something go too far without acting for it to boil over like this. Now thats not always the case, but bad blood and history between two teams can always come back to haunt me.

When the smoke clears, Its time to mete out the punishment and I eject the 2 instigators and ANYONE who jumped in off the respective benches. I would not eject a player for simply coming onto the field.

piaa_ump - I really appreciate the "intrusion," from an umpire, no less! There seems to be a tacit agreement about certain aspects of baseball like the BCB, between players, coaches and fans, and it's one of those things that people seem to assume everyone else understands. But I don't. So here goes another question: When you say it that it's taken as a negative if a nonpitcher doesn't participate in the BCB, it's okay if a pitcher doesn't? And even if it's just some pushing and shoving, it's a huge distraction from the task at hand. What does it accomplish? I feel really silly asking these questions, but I really am trying to understand. I guess I'm equally puzzled at coaches who throw big fits at umpires -- I'm told that it's a show of support for the team, but I don't get it...

I just know if my son ever participated in a bench clearing brawl, he would not have to worry about any consequences because I'd be in his face first!

My son was involved in his first brawl this summer...having played hockey for 12 years and NEVER having been involved in fistacuffs(always said he wanted to play not be ejected) I was appauled...this is a mens summer wood bat league with my guy being the youngest on the team...after the game I quizzed him as to why he came off the bench and his response that if he had stayed on the bench he would have been viewed as a non team player thus risking nonacceptance by the rest of the players...do I agree but I have to abide by his judgement call...my standard answer was though...If they all jumped off a roof would you have followed..
BTW...post game the coach made a point of seeking out hubby and I to apologize for the altercation...wanted to make sure that we understood this was not an everyday occurance

catchermom - I chuckled when I read your standard answer. Mine is the Golden Gate Bridge. So much for not succumbing to peer pressure. Baseball is such a fascinating sport, with all its idiosyncrasies and complexity...

MKM

My take is a little different than the others.
First of all, I do think there is an unwritten rule that you must leave the dugout...but IMO bench clearing brawls are not about fighting!

Bench clearings are about protecting your teammates and I am sure your son would want to do that! There is usually a lot of posturing and kicking a little dirt around, but the majority are tame and do not involve too much fighting. Some bad blood between teams or indiviaul players can cause a knee jerk reaction that just gets out of hand.

Loyalty....and unity as a team, is the goal
behind the bench clearing in most instances.

Val ...

I think you did a great job of 'splainin' it ... goes to the "sometimes a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do" ... no real fighting, but a show of allegiance. Likewise when the coach gets into an argument after what he perceives to be a missed call by the umpire ... a way of letting his player know that he (the coach) is behind the player.

Chill and BBM - Put it that way, it makes sense. In a very touching way, even. In fact, it seems every time I learn something new about baseball, I can't help but come to love and respect the sport even more.

Everyone knows that baseball players can't fight..if you want to see a fight go to a hockey game.

BTW: Chris and Corey's first BCB took place before they played an inning of baseball..they were 5 1/2. Moms' softball team in Queens was involved in a BCB with a team from Brooklyn. I was in the thick of it(imagine that) and I hear the ump yelling "Hey, some get these kids of the field". And I look down and my boys are right behind me..so I grab them and get them off the field. I asked them what they were thinking and they said.."We had your back Mom!!"

PM - That is one of the greatest stories I've heard! That'll surely be one of the "Let me tell you a little story about your grandmother..." gems one of these days.

MKM ...

trust me when I say that Chris and Corey will have more than one of those stories to tell about "Grandma" ...

Ladies, May I?
First of all it is very simply NOT a bench clearing brawl unless the benches are cleared! Anything less is just a “minor altercation”, which is not a significant event and will not get any press. The bench clearing brawl is a spontaneous event that is nothing more than a natural emotional response triggered by a perceived threat of aggression. Being a member of a team should instill in each player an attachment to every other player on his team. If someone or something attacks an individual, or something an individual is a part of, this attack is perceived as being personal and triggers an immediate retaliatory response. This response is so rapid and spontaneous that you don’t have the ability to sort out the intentions of each and every player on the other team nor do you consider your personal sacrifice.
Calling this a brawl is a misnomer. Normally there are only one or two aggressors in this “brawl”, while the other players are in a pure defensive mode. Yes, I think each and every player should show solidarity by making the “charge” from the dugout in DEFENSE of your teammate(s). Anything less is not being a team player.
When danger appears should we fight or flee? Most men will answer fight. That’s just our makeup. I must admit this post stirs memories of Todd Beamer, a hero in all our hearts. I’ll never forget the words he uttered on 9/11 while on flight 93. . . . . “Let’s Roll!
Fungo

Mary Ann....

"Grandma"....that is one heck of a concept...give me about 10 yrs and I'll be ready for it.

P-M ...

I am probably 5 or less years away from it myself and it is a painful thought. But I do know that you will become one Hot-GrandMama before I do, and I don't mean that chronologically, either ...

During my son's first year of American Legion baseball he was involved in one of these incedents. Player on his team gets a double, while standing on second the SS for the other team tell him " next time you bat you will get one to the head". He tells the guy "whatever", and goes about his business. Game goes on he doesn't tell his coach. Next time he goes up to bat he tells the umipire "this guy going to throw at my head". Umpire tells him get in the box, so he does. First pitch is high and inside, but not that close. Kid looks at the umpire who says nothing. He steps back in the box and the next pitch hits the brim of his helmet.He drops his bat and turns to the pitcher, the catch grabs him from behind and all hell broke loose. I had never seen anything like this it was crazy. All the players from both team in up on the field. 3 dad's from the other team go on the field and one of them got in a shoving match with the umpire. Police were called but no one was arrested. The batter from my son's team and the pitcher and catcher from the other team were each suspended for 2 games. Now I have a question, what should the umpire have done when the batter told him the pitcher was going to throw at his head. Should the batter have told his coach what the SS said before he went up to bat again?

I had a little chuckle yesterday as I was
"nesting" and while cleaning out a junk drawer came across my brother's baseball card from 1990....His nose is in the middle of his cheek and there is a welt on it the size of a half dollar. I remember now that the night before the picture was taken there was a big-time brawl...where fighting WAS the intention and he got clocked trying to keep his players from harm.

Chill -